as in aristocracy
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
a gathering of Mafia dons that was in effect a convocation of the nation's priesthood of organized crime
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Recent Examples of priesthood
Long before the papacy, even before his first steps toward priesthood, for Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the boy who would go on to become Pope Francis – there was his hometown sports club, Buenos Aires’ San Lorenzo de Almagro.
—
Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
When Pope Francis convened Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican in 2019 to discuss the ordination of married men in remote parts of South America, the meeting raised expectations about the possibility of revolutionizing the celibate priesthood.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Born in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio first joined the Catholic priesthood in 1969.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
Overall, wrote Kate McElwee for the National Catholic Register in 2023, the cause of female priesthood did not advance far under Francis’ leadership.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
When Pope Francis convened Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican in 2019 to discuss the ordination of married men in remote parts of South America, the meeting raised expectations about the possibility of revolutionizing the celibate priesthood.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Born in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio first joined the Catholic priesthood in 1969.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
Overall, wrote Kate McElwee for the National Catholic Register in 2023, the cause of female priesthood did not advance far under Francis’ leadership.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priesthood
Noun
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The rise of the bias cut was a silhouette on which Robbins wanted to focus, imbuing the fluid style with elements of luxury and glamour intrinsic to the aristocracy.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Many members of Putin’s aristocracy continue to hold out hope that after the end of hostilities, everything will become, if not different, then at least milder.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Jared Allen, an elite pass rusher in his day, spoke out and seemed to hint that McCarthy is better than Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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Next door to the station is a small residential compound that has been patrolled by Qatar’s elite Amiri Guard 24 hours a day since the beginning of the Gaza conflict.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The first-time All-Star would have career bests in ERA, WHIP (0.97) and ERA+ (131) if the season ended today.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
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Two editors selected it as the overall best.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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These Democrats headed for Omaha after Mayoral-elect John Ewing (D-NE) beat Jean Stothert, the longest serving incumbent mayor in the country.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Aug. 2025
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Kuecher said the mobile home park’s motion was against the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act, which says that if a park owner elects to cease the operation of either all or a portion of the mobile home park, the tenants shall be entitled to at least 12-months’ notice.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Monoculture Problem Just as agricultural monocultures make ecosystems vulnerable to disease, cognitive monocultures make human societies vulnerable to manipulation and groupthink.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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While the motivation behind the killing is still unknown, Kirk's death has escalated anxieties about the rise of political violence in the United States and the deepening divide within American society.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Priesthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priesthood. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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