PAPAL Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

papal

adjective

Definition of papal

as in episcopal

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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 papal The group formed after students went viral for holding a mock papal election in their classroom. — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The 71-year-old American Pope is still relatively young for a pope and remains physically active with weekly tennis matches and riding horses at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat, according to reporting from NPR. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026 Furnished in austere style, the papal suite on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital is the roost of sick popes. — Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026 The era of papal health struggles had, many in the Vatican hoped, been put aside in the short term. — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for papal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for papal

Adjective

After returning to the United States, Novakovic attended an Episcopal boarding school in San Antonio, Texas.

— byRachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 May 2026
On New Year’s Eve in 1996, Christou followed Deadbeat with a club at a former Episcopal church that was built in 1865.

— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

Definition of episcopal

Adjective

In another decree published Monday, Leo canceled Francis’ plans to move some of the Vatican’s secret archives and library holdings out of the city state and onto the grounds of a pontifical university across town.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026

Definition of pontifical

Adjective

Beyond his role within the church, the Pope is also a key international figure, frequently speaking out on high-profile topics such as artificial intelligence and immigration, and making apostolic journeys abroad.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.

— Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026

Definition of apostolic

Adjective

By the 1980s, England was beginning its turn away from churchgoing as a cornerstone of society, so nothing as extroverted or nakedly clerical as gospel choirs would fit a downcast, monochromatic land anyhow.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Rubio said the inclusive presentation was in keeping with the effort, begun by Pope Francis, to make the church less clerical and more reflective of the real world.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of clerical

Adjective

This week in Riyadh, another ministerial gathering took place.

— Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Reuters said a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum is also set to take place, with its plenary session to be held behind closed doors.

— Azhar Sukri,Terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of ministerial

Adjective

The Illinois native returned to his priestly roots with his last TV appearance as Father Tobias on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives.

— Rachel Flynn, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Parsi priesthood is hereditary, meaning all the boys here have been born into priestly families.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

Definition of priestly

Adjective

Over the past several decades, however, a growing percentage of people in Latin America, long a Catholic stronghold, have been embracing evangelical churches.

— Johanna Bard Richlin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Wisely, our Fathers chose a secular people-friendly format not subject to papal or evangelical or ayatollah decree.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of evangelical

Browse Nearby Words

papa

papal

paparazzi

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“Papal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/papal. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of papal

adjective

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