encyclicals

noun

plural of encyclical
as in letters
an official writing from the Pope to the Roman Catholic bishops

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclicals
  1. letters
  2. epistles
  3. messages
  4. pronouncements
  5. mails
  6. memos
  7. posts
  8. declarations
Noun
  • The letters warns that legal action may follow if the state does not meet the 48-hour deadline to review the list.
    — SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • At the end of every academic year, my colleagues and I all receive a slew of requests from students and alumni asking for letters of recommendation.
    — Christina Wyman, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of letters
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of epistles
Noun
  • Federal prosecutors and digital forensic experts have relied on a massive trove of electronic messages to build their case.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Unlimited Plan includes unlimited messages per month, subject to a fair use policy, as well as priority customer support and priority access to new features and future models.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of messages
Noun
  • Lured in by such shiny baubles, the responsible critic should avoid making premature, weepingly sincere pronouncements.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Musk is savvy at securing investment, whether his shiny pronouncements about the future prove real or not.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pronouncements
Noun
  • The book-gifting program, part of the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation, mails free, high-quality books to children across the country and around the world once a month from birth to age 5.
    — Kristy High, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Each month, the book gifting program mails free books to children from birth to age 5, regardless of their family’s income.
    — Devarrick Turner, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mails
Noun
  • That includes memos, corporate communications, and Maven blogs.
    — Corynn Winston, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But inside, Sweeney’s vision triumphed over Wright’s, who, despite many passionate memos, was unable to convince Harry to interfere.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of memos
Noun
  • In comparison, topics that involve groundswells or are receiving authentic attention often inspire social media users to create their own posts that outperform inauthentic behavior.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Raqib Naik, the center’s founder and executive director, said that the team documented an influx of posts portraying South Asians as invaders, job thieves and a demographic threat, evoking Great Replacement theory and remigration rhetoric.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of posts
Noun
  • Dobbins responded with declarations that reflected his confidence.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026
  • So too is the poet’s journey—a series of declarations, and a repetition of change.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of declarations

Browse Nearby Words

encyclical
encyclicals
encyclopedia
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Cite this Entry

“Encyclicals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclicals. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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