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 text records royal decrees including tax relief during poor Nile floods; donations to temples; the creation of a new priestly office; a festival tied to the heliacal rising of Sirius; and a calendar reform introducing a leap day every four years.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
In 1997, Greenspan read an article in the Times about a group of geneticists who had tested the Y chromosomes of Jewish men who believed themselves to be part of an ancient priestly tradition called the cohanim.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for priestly
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
In 1997, Greenspan read an article in the Times about a group of geneticists who had tested the Y chromosomes of Jewish men who believed themselves to be part of an ancient priestly tradition called the cohanim.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for priestly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priestly
Adjective
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Thaksin could be eligible for parole in May, his nephew is the party’s prime ministerial candidate.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The referendum refers political reforms that include prime ministerial term limits, stronger checks on executive power and other safeguards preventing parliamentary power consolidation.—
Julhas Alam,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Both works carried cinematic, pastoral qualities.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
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In a pastoral letter and videos played at Masses across western North Carolina, Martin laid out the need for parishioners to go well beyond believing to engaging in proactive evangelism.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Despite the heavy bombing campaign, there will be no invasion of Iran by American or Israeli troops to overthrow the clerical regime.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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Under Iran's constitution, the supreme leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body elected by the public every eight years.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Priestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priestly. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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