as in dogmatical
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions
a theater critic known for his pontifical pronouncements on what is or is not worth seeing
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Recent Examples of pontifical
Related Articles For the past 40-plus years in the Philippines, Natori’s mother Angelita Cruz has been very close to the nuncios (who act as pontifical ambassadors), the designer said.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
The only pontifical name that hasn't been used more than once is Peter, the name of the first pope, though there's no prohibition against doing so.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
Gregory and Benedict are also popular pontifical names with 16 and 15 uses, respectively,while Innocent and Leo come close behind with 13 uses each.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Francis had established the Holy See’s first pontifical commission for the protection of minors early on in his reign.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Turkson resigned from that role in 2021 and was appointed to head two pontifical academies on sciences and social sciences.
—Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee and Chris Scicluna, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2020
That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023
Because of its original purpose, however, the building also has its peculiarities: the pontifical horses lived in grand style on two levels of soaring stalls, connected by a monumental, gently sloping ramp of travertine bricks.
—Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
The only pontifical name that hasn't been used more than once is Peter, the name of the first pope, though there's no prohibition against doing so.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 8 May 2025
Gregory and Benedict are also popular pontifical names with 16 and 15 uses, respectively,while Innocent and Leo come close behind with 13 uses each.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Francis had established the Holy See’s first pontifical commission for the protection of minors early on in his reign.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Turkson resigned from that role in 2021 and was appointed to head two pontifical academies on sciences and social sciences.
—Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee and Chris Scicluna, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2020
That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023
Because of its original purpose, however, the building also has its peculiarities: the pontifical horses lived in grand style on two levels of soaring stalls, connected by a monumental, gently sloping ramp of travertine bricks.
—Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontifical
Adjective
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Nobody should be shocked that someone as dogmatic as Greta Thunberg failed to reach a sudden moral epiphany about Zionism by the end of her journey.—
The Editors,
National Review,
11 June 2025
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Others warn that dogmatic students could replace one set of self-serving historical narratives – Sheikh Hasina’s version – with their own.—
Simon Montlake,
Christian Science Monitor,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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All of which can be employed by Musk or anyone else using AI to target us with false political advertising tailored to our most stubborn biases, further dividing us, manipulating elections and solidifying what has already become a fascist state.—
Sal Recchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2025
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Then Curry, rattled by the monumental reverb of Kyrie’s shot, hurried into a stubborn approach on the ensuing possession, missed a desperate 3 over Kevin Love, who used his length and a rare display of defensive intensity to deny Curry a good look.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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The show premiered Saturday, April 12, and follows three successful Black men on a quest for love—each with a very opinionated mother (or mother figure) tagging along for the entire ride.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
16 Apr. 2025
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For being such an opinionated, sure person, this is an element in my life that I’ve never been superattached to a yes or no answer.—
Lulu Garcia-Navarro,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Football has typically accepted these lapses and quietly moved on, adamant that the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PED) is primarily a problem for other sports.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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It’s become the latest project that’s caused high tension among Prairie Village residents — with a new group that’s formed to rally residents to push against the city’s plans, while others are adamant for its approval.—
Taylor O’Connor,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Parts of the book were devoted to religious fantasy, the doctrinaire blindness of an age in which faith dominated every aspect of life.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
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Francis kept Ouellet in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pontifical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontifical. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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