monk

noun

Definition of monknext
as in friar

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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 monk The book in question is a copy of Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, a religious tract that was translated and adapted from Latin early in the 15th century by a monk named Nicholas Love. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026 These are old stone monk lodgings perched right on the edge of the cliff on the mountain between Perissa and Kamari. — Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026 This might make sense for a Buddhist monk pursuing the great unbinding, but not for a random Brooklynite who just wants to be more productive at work. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 Part of it is the identical outfits, a look that mixes Olsen twins with sister wives and a dash of Franciscan monk. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monk
  1. friar
  2. monastic
  3. abbot
  4. mendicant
  5. cleric
  6. preacher
  7. bishop
  8. deacon
Noun
  • The hotel works with a local Franciscan friar from Ravello, Friar Marcus, to introduce interested guests to the chapel, or whisk them on tours of Ravello, his local parish (and the home of Villas Cimbrone and Rufolo).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The analysis was specifically requested by the viceroy of New Spain as a test of the friar’s scientific expertise.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of friar
Noun
  • The Bible’s message was seen as not only informative but salvific, and the monastic who memorized its words filled his or her soul with divine wisdom.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Historical questions remain, however, regarding whether such practices were primarily reserved for monastics or widely practiced among laypeople.
    — Daniel M. Stuart, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of monastic
Noun
  • The men were also ordered to return more than 300 million baht (about $9 million) to the hospice at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in the central province of Lopburi, where Alongkot had served as abbot.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The abbot eventually suspended the monk from his clerical duties a few months ago and the pair’s relationship worsened, per the outlet.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of abbot
Noun
  • Throughout much of Buddhist history, and particularly in Theravada Buddhist contexts, mindfulness and its associated meditation methods have been the purview of mendicants (monks and nuns), who used mindfulness meditation to achieve trance states (jhana) leading to nirvana.
    — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
  • An internationally famous leader who lived a mendicant’s life.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of mendicant
Noun
  • Attendance was mandatory, but a cleric with a loudspeaker tried to give the event a festive air.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The lawmaker, Hamid Rasaei, a cleric who has regularly lashed out at Iran’s negotiating team, is a member of the ultra-hard-line political party Paydari.
    — Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of cleric
Noun
  • The preacher was arrested in 2023 after police received a tip-off, and weeks later authorities began uncovering bodies in shallow graves in the Shakahola Forest near the coast in southeastern Kenya.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In the background of a gut-wrenching new album from Teller Bank$, there’s a preacher who sees himself in the biblical parable of Noah’s ark.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of preacher
Noun
  • Leo served as a missionary and bishop in Peru for a number of years.
    — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • From left, the other women are Paula Hoeffer, a bishop, and priests Amy Bruner and Mary Smith.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of bishop
Noun
  • These female bishops, in turn, ordained more women as deacons, priests and bishops.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The youngest, a middle-school basketball coach who’s thinking about becoming a deacon or pastor, isn’t sure.
    — Eric Lau, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of deacon

Browse Nearby Words

monitory
monk
monkey
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Cite this Entry

“Monk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monk. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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