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
Her inciting incident is learning about the conversion of two college acquaintances, a comedy duo, to the Anglican priesthood—both men finding God at the same time.
—
Lauren Boersma Harris, New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2025
In a faith where men hold all priesthood authority, reality TV has become an unexpected loophole for female dissent.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Lauren Boersma Harris, New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2025
In a faith where men hold all priesthood authority, reality TV has become an unexpected loophole for female dissent.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for priesthood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priesthood
Noun
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But the Westeros aristocracy likely won’t see Baelor as disposable.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Once the preserve of European aristocracy, the Romanée-Conti is now sought out by multi-millionaires at auction.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Schnitzer was also closely connected to Israel’s political and intelligence elite.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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But Wasserman is the rare case of a wealthy, renown American elite whose empire is crumbling under calls for accountability from the public, local lawmakers and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Canadians are the best in best-on-best.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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The two most notable team stats were points in the paint, where the Aztecs scored 52 points; and turnovers, where the visitors committed six while forcing 22, both season bests.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Venhuizen ultimately declared the sales tax reduction bill defeated due to its lack of an 18-vote majority of members-elect.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
18 Feb. 2026
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Mike elects to go out on his own, and thus Money dispatches the mangy-looking kill machine Orman (Barry Keoghan; bleach-blond hair plus exposed roots = sociopath) to intercept Mike’s next job and take him down.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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If there were a Mensa society for rationalizing one’s own shitty behavior, Pippa would be its president.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
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And your personal history with someone who abused alcohol and struggled with society makes your son-in-law’s behavior especially triggering.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Priesthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priesthood. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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