prayers

noun

plural of prayer
1
as in petitions
an address to God or a deity he always directed a bedside prayer to God before going to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in appeals
an earnest request we hope that the governor will hear our prayer and do something about this pressing problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 prayers Thoughts and prayers get downgraded to mere words with no action. — Lauren Green, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 This infused all aspects of monastic life—prayers, of course, but meals, work, sleep, and conversations as well. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 There will be funeral prayers later at the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala as well. — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 Fans are now rallying to offer prayers and support for the pioneering player and his family during this difficult time. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Attendees heard speeches, the American and Ukrainian national anthems, traditional Ukrainian music, and prayers. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Muhammad Taqi al-Hakim, a senior scholar at the Najaf seminary, led the funeral prayers at the Shrine of Imam Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 Australia answered our prayers, replacing the impressive Patrick Beach, who made an excellent save late in regulation to keep the scores level, with 34-year-old Mat Ryan in the final seconds of extra time. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 7 July 2026 What happened Slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession began advancing through the streets of Tehran this morning after Sunday’s prayers at the capital’s sprawling Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla complex. — Peter Weber, TheWeek, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prayers
  1. petitions
  2. appeals
  3. orisons
  4. pleas
  5. requests
Noun
  • Those petitions ballooned after the administration began limiting the ability of many immigrants to seek release through bond hearings in immigration court.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a pair of emergency petitions filed by activist groups to stop the implementation of a Texas law requiring app stores to verify users’ ages.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2026
Definition of petitions
Noun
  • Martin said the order shows how strongly the judge prefers a deal over years more of litigation — and potential appeals.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Much of what couples experience as conflict is, on closer inspection, a disagreement about which interpretation of an ambiguous event is the correct one, and that disagreement is rarely settled by appeals to trust.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of appeals
Noun
  • Kibandi discussed with us about the power of art in creating change and how photography can be a vehicle for culture expanding orisons for girls and women.
    — Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
Definition of orisons
Noun
  • If the judge finds there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, Robinson will be arraigned and enter pleas.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Leo’s Saturday pleas to European and American leaders are not unprecedented.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 4 July 2026
Definition of pleas
Noun
  • Access is free through a lottery system, with MK2 receiving around 200,000 ticket requests each year.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • The president has repeatedly approved a higher percentage of aid requests for Republican-leaning states than for Democratic-leaning ones in his second term, according to the nonpartisan think tank Urban Institute.
    — Catherine Bouvet, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of requests

Browse Nearby Words

prayerfulness
prayers
praying
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Cite this Entry

“Prayers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prayers. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of prayers for Spanish Speakers

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