as in letters
an official writing from the Pope to the Roman Catholic bishops
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Recent Examples of encyclicals
Ed Simon on the history of papal encyclicals.
—
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican.
—Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026
Rather, the two encyclicals establish a foundation of work as a human right and a societal good that applies even more in the age of AI.
—Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Here's a comparison of two encyclicals — 135 years apart — addressing technological upheaval.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 25 May 2026
Nearly 300 papal encyclicals have been produced since the first was authored in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 May 2026
This reframing is not at odds with traditional Catholic theological affirmations, as anyone who reads John Paul II’s encyclicals can see.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican.
—Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026
Rather, the two encyclicals establish a foundation of work as a human right and a societal good that applies even more in the age of AI.
—Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Here's a comparison of two encyclicals — 135 years apart — addressing technological upheaval.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 25 May 2026
Nearly 300 papal encyclicals have been produced since the first was authored in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 May 2026
This reframing is not at odds with traditional Catholic theological affirmations, as anyone who reads John Paul II’s encyclicals can see.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclicals
Noun
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Interest in the author’s life can curdle into obsession, as in Henry James’s The Aspern Papers, in which the narrator embraces any deception necessary to acquire the letters of a dead poet.—
Walt Hunter,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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Tap the letters or the up and down carat on the display line.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Noun
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The main theme of the letters over time emphasizes long-term value creation, but the epistles have drawn criticism from the political left and right.—
byDebbie Carlson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Mar. 2026
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While hunkered down in the trenches of World War I, a Greek scholar translated some of Paul’s epistles.—
Robin Hoagland,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
August 23 – September 22 Clear messages spark teamwork and goodwill.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
-
Richards vaguely remembers seeing messages on social media around 2016 about Black women embracing their natural hair.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Maury Brown Maury Brown Leading up to recent negotiations, the public pronouncements of how much is going to the players have fallen along party lines.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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That same month, Talarico’s campaign spokesman, JT Ennis, issued an official response to the vegan pronouncements on his boss' behalf, sharing a photo of Talarico taking a large bite of a massive turkey leg while wearing a button-down with a Texas flag design.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors said Graves' body was partially wrapped in black garbage bags secured with duct tape, then rolled up in a rug alongside blankets, bags, pieces of mails, various items of clothing and trash.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Tyler has been embedded in the treasurer’s office, which calculates and mails out property tax bills, for years.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Working alongside Councilmember Ortiz, our District 5 team submitted 28 policy memos within the first 100 days, with 80% approved by the City Council.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
The Last Manager Standing newsletter recently scoured the research on layoff memos, earnings calls, and myriad corporate communications, and developed a list of phrases that often precede layoffs.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
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And if its entertaining social-media posts are any indication, the excitement has just begun.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 June 2026
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The statement came after multiple X posts over the weekend alleged that the film used generative AI.—
Corbin Bolies,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
No sweeping declarations should be made about the 2026 Packers over the next cluster of workouts and practices, but the next couple of weeks can perhaps provide a baseline of what to expect come training camp.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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For Meeks, this kind of work requires a lot of patience and reflection rather than quick declarations of unity.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encyclicals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclicals. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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