preacher

noun

ˈprē-chər How to pronounce preacher (audio)
Definition of preachernext
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church the marriage will be performed by our usual preacher

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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 preacher Politicians and preachers denounced them for blasphemy, perversion, and their loud support for civil rights. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2026 In the movie, a local brothel — the Devil’s Playhouse — becomes the target of a TV preacher, forcing the town’s sheriff, who happens to be a frequent customer, to save it. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026 The son of a former preacher, the South Carolina native grew up around music. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026 Parton’s first musical performances were in church, where her grandfather was a preacher. — Kristin M. Hall, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preacher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preacher
  1. priest
  2. clergyman
  3. pastor
  4. minister
  5. reverend
Noun
  • After shooting Lino in the foot, the stranger reveals himself as Father Joe (Kiefer Sutherland), an actual priest who takes on Manhattan’s drug dealers wearing his work clothes.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Helping people was the reason Judge had become a priest many years earlier.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of priest
Noun
  • Alongside Garfield’s Ploughman is Cosmo Jarvis as the true historical figure Wat Tyler, Jamie Bell as clergyman John Ball and Thomasin McKenzie as fellow rebel Alyce.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Such details include McCartney’s bare feet and opposite stride and the other members’ attire (Lennon’s white supposedly represents a clergyman, Starr’s black a mourner, and Harrison’s denim a gravedigger).
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 July 2026
Definition of clergyman
Noun
  • Nigerian pastor William Kumuyi, whose Global Crusades have taken his ministry to countries across several continents, sees those qualities as a wider feature of African Christianity.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Last October, 18 members of the Zion Church in China, including its founder, pastor Ezra Jin, were arrested in one of China’s largest crackdowns on a single church in decades.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of pastor
Noun
  • As trade talks with Canada remain on ice, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set to travel to Mexico on Wednesday, according to Mexico’s trade minister.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
  • However, a jump in the MR4 benchmark does not mean that every Singapore minister will see their salaries increase by that much immediately.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of minister
Noun
  • However, a reverend in Zambia — Billiance Chondwe — says he's noticed a change.
    — Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 18 June 2026
  • Spirtual foundation Astara, where Guidera reportedly served as a reverend, paid tribute to the late actor in an emotional social media post over the weekend.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Definition of reverend

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Cite this Entry

“Preacher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preacher. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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