as in preachers
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of priests
Chief among his many complaints was the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences, which had become not only widespread but even mandatory for many priests, in order to generate funds to pay for the construction of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
—
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
This is a historic moment because the Church of England has only allowed women to become priests since 1994 and bishops since 2014.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The dueling settlement offers from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland and the hundreds of East Bay parishioners who say they were raped and abused by its priests are still separated by at least $90 million — and possibly tens of millions more, court records show.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
Leo will meet with a community of Augustinian sisters and priests, and tour an archaeological site.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
On Friday, for example, in a speech to priests attending a Vatican class on the sacrament of confession, Leo said the sacrament was a workshop that restores unity and peace.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Frade’s views were echoed by other priests in South Florida, many of whom were praying this would mark the beginning of a better life for Cubans on the island.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
On Ash Wednesday, 2026, two Roman Catholic priests and a religious sister entered an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, to celebrate Mass with detainees inside.
—Hosffman Ospino, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
This is a historic moment because the Church of England has only allowed women to become priests since 1994 and bishops since 2014.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The dueling settlement offers from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland and the hundreds of East Bay parishioners who say they were raped and abused by its priests are still separated by at least $90 million — and possibly tens of millions more, court records show.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
Leo will meet with a community of Augustinian sisters and priests, and tour an archaeological site.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
On Friday, for example, in a speech to priests attending a Vatican class on the sacrament of confession, Leo said the sacrament was a workshop that restores unity and peace.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Frade’s views were echoed by other priests in South Florida, many of whom were praying this would mark the beginning of a better life for Cubans on the island.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
On Ash Wednesday, 2026, two Roman Catholic priests and a religious sister entered an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, to celebrate Mass with detainees inside.
—Hosffman Ospino, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priests
Noun
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Until then, smuggling weed had been a grand adventure, an escape from a society that had just thrown Prager’s generation into a meat grinder in Vietnam, a repudiation of the crooked politicians and backward preachers and greedy capitalists who were running the world.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
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This type of apocalyptic thought has roots in the 19th century, when many American preachers turned toward more literal readings of the Bible.—
Shalom Goldman,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Ramadan and Eid is a time of joy for Muslims, but this year, the holiday mood was dampened, local clerics said.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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These clerics have spent our money for years on missiles and drones, and on funding Hamas and Hezbollah.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Zandanshatar’s resignation came after one of his senior ministers faced allegations of corruption.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The following day, energy ministers also met virtually to take joint action on energy stockpiles alongside the IEA to try and ease the crunch.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Two thousand people are expected to attend, including numerous religious figures such as bishops, priests and deacons.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Early Christians cited menstruation as the reason for not allowing female deacons or priests.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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By visiting with the sick and shut-in, helping the bereaved, ministering to the incarcerated, always being willing to open the doors of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to more people, teaching theology to other pastors and more, Thornhill was a pastor.—
Sophia Tiedge,
jsonline.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Bhikkhu Pannakara, the leader of the Walk for Peace, thanked the monks' community, the governors, pastors, reverends and local law enforcement officers who welcomed them along their way.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Priests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priests. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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