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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of priesthood
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—
Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Black men also were banned from ordained priesthood.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis joined the Catholic priesthood at 18 and rose up the ranks of the Argentine clergy.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Back in the 1980s, Nicanor Palacios was an altar boy with Leo during his early priesthood in nearby Piura, and traveled the area with him for services.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Black men also were banned from ordained priesthood.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis joined the Catholic priesthood at 18 and rose up the ranks of the Argentine clergy.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Back in the 1980s, Nicanor Palacios was an altar boy with Leo during his early priesthood in nearby Piura, and traveled the area with him for services.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priesthood
Noun
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Head to Taormina Long before Netflix showcased its good looks to the world in The White Lotus, Taormina was a magnet for poets, film stars, and the aristocracy (a key Grand Tour destination).—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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Some moved to England in order to receive an education or marry into the aristocracy; others journeyed to India, Macau, or Rome.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For 35 years Brazilian political elites have viewed nuclear armament as both unnecessary and counterproductive, given Brazil’s peaceful foreign policy, emphasis on multilateralism, and the Tlatelolco Treaty making Latin America a nuclear-weapons-free zone.—
Oliver Stuenkel,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
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The elite-to-college gymnastics transition is easier said than done.—
Benjamin Royer,
Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The 7-footer has been great for San Antonio after signing a four-year, $41 million contract this past summer, averaging personal bests in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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Cameron Boozer had 17 points and season-bests in assists with nine and steals with four for Duke (13-1, 2-0).—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The representative-elect emigrated from Carolina, Puerto Rico to New Britain in 1994, settling in a House district that now is 56% Latino.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
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New York’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, plans to absorb individual costs into the collective life of the city, but whether that will be enough is an open question.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Thinking globally and acting locally means electing people of vision, not people who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag without a lobbyist lighting their way under the table, or down the wrong path where for-profit companies rule and teachers are scapegoated for society's failures.—
SHELLEY SMITH SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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In a society full of cookie cutter McMansions, scrolling through customizable tiny houses on Amazon is one of my favorite forms of escapism.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Priesthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priesthood. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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