as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
majestically robed in priestly garments
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Recent Examples of priestly
The priestly fraternity, named in honor of the anti-modernist Pope St. Pius X, was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as a response to liturgical reforms made in the Second Vatican Council (also known as Vatican II).
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
One thing to consider, however, is that Leviticus is devoted to priestly concerns.
—Jacob F. Love, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025
The southern tradition is rooted partly in a century-old revolt against the privileges granted to Brahmans, the priestly caste that sits at the top of Hinduism’s ancient social hierarchy.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
Francis has long made prison ministry an important part of his priestly vocation and has made several visits to Rebibbia since becoming pope in 2013 while also including prison visits in many of his foreign trips.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for priestly
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
One thing to consider, however, is that Leviticus is devoted to priestly concerns.
—Jacob F. Love, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025
The southern tradition is rooted partly in a century-old revolt against the privileges granted to Brahmans, the priestly caste that sits at the top of Hinduism’s ancient social hierarchy.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
Francis has long made prison ministry an important part of his priestly vocation and has made several visits to Rebibbia since becoming pope in 2013 while also including prison visits in many of his foreign trips.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for priestly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priestly
Adjective
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But over the weekend, the Japan Times reported that the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) planned to seek Komeito’s backing for a joint prime ministerial candidate.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
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The most notable change to the ministerial picks was incoming Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, head of the Paris police, who replaces Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans Party and who harbours his own presidential ambitions.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Could Trump’s pastoral critics ultimately face the same frivolous yet burdensome investigations that now plague his political critics?—
Rev. Nathan Empsall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Same-sex desire also appears throughout Virgil’s pastoral poems, the Eclogues.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The steelworkers represent licensed vocational nurses, medical assistants, engineers, pharmacy staff and lab staff, clerical, dietary and environmental services workers, technical staff, and other frontline professionals.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
19 Oct. 2025
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Peabody-Whitehead was formerly a boarding house, several nightclubs and restaurants, and clerical offices, among other commercial uses, Wertenteil said.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Priestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priestly. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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