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
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Recent Examples of prayers
In the letters that Wilson collected, there are countless appeals to God, prayers for help and understanding and prayers of thanksgiving for strength and mercy.
—
Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Leo then said that God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Newman’s God is laughing at our prayers, sneering at our cries for help.
—Time, 6 May 2026
New graves for bags of bones At the end of the search, family members and rescue workers recite prayers, standing behind 50 white body bags laid out in the dirt.
—Anas Baba, NPR, 6 May 2026
Thoughts and prayers to all the white athletes out there going through it today.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Leo then said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Leo then said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
This team needs some immediate prayers.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Leo then said that God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Newman’s God is laughing at our prayers, sneering at our cries for help.
—Time, 6 May 2026
New graves for bags of bones At the end of the search, family members and rescue workers recite prayers, standing behind 50 white body bags laid out in the dirt.
—Anas Baba, NPR, 6 May 2026
Thoughts and prayers to all the white athletes out there going through it today.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Leo then said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Leo then said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
This team needs some immediate prayers.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prayers
Noun
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Lydon, who served as a Peruvian missionary with the pope during the 1990s, recalled his friend collecting signatures on petitions urging an end to human rights violations under an authoritarian regime.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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Despite hundreds of millions in funding, California has seen only a few thousand petitions statewide, with limited enrollments, high dismissal rates and very few successful completions in Orange County and elsewhere.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
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The blend of green space, college-town energy and central location appeals to professionals and families alike.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
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All hearings and appeals of this nature should be documented, and directors should use their reasonable and unbiased judgements when considering limited variances.—
Nicole R. Kurtz,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
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
Noun
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During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court, Jones entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel, and filch millions of dollars from unwitting poker players.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The city has denied public records requests for the application, citing a state exemption related to hotel development plans.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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In a report set to be presented Tuesday to the Police Commission, LAPD officials said drones were deployed more than 3,000 times last year, mostly in response to emergency calls or officer requests for assistance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prayers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prayers. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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