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priest

noun

ˈprēst How to pronounce priest (audio)
Definition of priestnext
as in preacher
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 priest But back in 2010, the block was relatively quaint, and the lot held a two-story, 2,599-square-foot rectory for priests. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 15 Sep. 2026 Tuesday marks 20 years since the death of Augustinian priest Father Bill Atkinson. — Joe Holden, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 There was a group of them, policemen, and then there was a priest with them. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 Bell stars as heretic priest John Ball, while Garfield portrays a character called Ploughman, a grieving farmer who unintentionally finds himself in a leadership position. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for priest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priest
  1. preacher
  2. cleric
  3. clergyman
  4. bishop
  5. minister
  6. deacon
  7. pastor
  8. reverend
Noun
  • Anton offers him protection, money and a possible escape from Stonemore, while an enigmatic local preacher (played by Kirby), presents him with a very different path.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Soon, the vast stadium was packed — not with rugby fans or concertgoers, but with thousands who came to pray with an African preacher.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of preacher
Noun
  • Also figuring prominently in the proceedings is the cleric’s acolyte Alyce (Thomasin McKenzie, Jojo Rabbit), a fictional character representing the many women who took part in the movement.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In Iraq, the faction earned rebukes from clerics who had previously supported global jihad as well as from more mainstream religious leaders.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of cleric
Noun
  • One local widow wants the world to honor the 2,977 killed, including her husband, a clergyman who kept a Bible on hand while traveling.
    — Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of clergyman
Noun
  • Seven top clergypersons of the Armenian Apostolic Church, including the church head, Karekin II, have been charged with crimes related to the church’s refusal to restore a mutinous bishop.
    — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Among the mourners and dozens of clergy at Trinity Cathedral in midtown Sacramento on Thursday was a man who met Jerry Lamb just once but whose life the late bishop touched.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bishop
Noun
  • Kaamil Alli, spokesman for the country’s trade minister, said South African officials were holding discussions with US companies interested in securing critical mineral supplies.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Three weeks earlier 10 Black students, escorted by local ministers past hundreds of white protesters, were turned away by the Arkansas National Guard—at the behest of the state’s governor, Orval Faubus.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of minister
Noun
  • His mother, Karen, sang in the choir, and his father, Andrew, was a deacon.
    — Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Corle, 59, is one of the church deacons and works at nearby Eielson Air Force Base.
    — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of deacon
Noun
  • The former pastor, who founded Texas megachurch Gateway in 2000, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but all except six months of the time was suspended.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The asylum-seeking evangelical pastor dreamed of creating a vibrant gathering spot for Venezuelan immigrants.
    — Elliot Spagat, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of pastor
Noun
  • But my little Outlander sweeties, this is not just any reverend, this is Reverend Wakefield.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026
  • However, a reverend in Zambia — Billiance Chondwe — says he's noticed a change.
    — Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 18 June 2026
Definition of reverend

Phrases Containing priest

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pries
priest
priestess
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Cite this Entry

“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priest. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about priest

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