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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of priests
Ultimately, the pharaoh’s prescient spiritual optimism comes in conflict with the all-powerful establishment priests, who kill Akhnaten and Nefertiti.
—
Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The report then stressed the need for the diocese to abandon the practice of requiring victims to take polygraph tests and to stop refusing to investigate third-party complaints about priests.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, more than 200 priests gathered to discuss the future of a diocese that once called more than 1 million local Catholics parishioners.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
To protect their sovereign, priests would install a substitute king or perform ceremonies to intercept the curse.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
One main difference with traditional Latin Mass is the priests face the altar rather than the congregation.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Marcos’s commanders, confronted with throngs of nuns, priests and ordinary civilians pleading, weeping and kneeling in prayer, refused orders to open fire and clear the streets, and Marcos subsequently fled to exile in Hawaii.
—Keith B. Richburg, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2026
Among the more than 2,700 people arrested, were many who would generally never be considered terrorists, from priests to pensioners.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 21 Feb. 2026
Many Catholics will attend a mass where the priests will smudge ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The report then stressed the need for the diocese to abandon the practice of requiring victims to take polygraph tests and to stop refusing to investigate third-party complaints about priests.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, more than 200 priests gathered to discuss the future of a diocese that once called more than 1 million local Catholics parishioners.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
To protect their sovereign, priests would install a substitute king or perform ceremonies to intercept the curse.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
One main difference with traditional Latin Mass is the priests face the altar rather than the congregation.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2026
Marcos’s commanders, confronted with throngs of nuns, priests and ordinary civilians pleading, weeping and kneeling in prayer, refused orders to open fire and clear the streets, and Marcos subsequently fled to exile in Hawaii.
—Keith B. Richburg, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2026
Among the more than 2,700 people arrested, were many who would generally never be considered terrorists, from priests to pensioners.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 21 Feb. 2026
Many Catholics will attend a mass where the priests will smudge ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priests
Noun
-
Politicians sat next to preachers, who sat near family members and world leaders, and when the service ended, after four hours, a hearse sat outside, waiting.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
His large band, squeezed onto a stage scarcely longer than two kayaks laid end to end, is composed almost entirely of Haitian preachers’ kids raised in the country’s gospel tradition.—
Emma Madden,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Iran’s top clerics are still working to choose a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by the US-Israel strikes on Saturday.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In Iran, senior clerics responsible for selecting the next supreme leader are considering naming Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to the top post, according to reports.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,Holly Ellyatt,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Separately, finance ministers from the G7 nations are meeting Monday by video conference to discuss the repercussions from the war.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Group of Seven finance ministers are set to discuss a possible joint release of oil reserves on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Middle East war chokes flows from the region and sends prices soaring.—
Alberto Nardelli,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two thousand people are expected to attend, including numerous religious figures such as bishops, priests and deacons.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Early Christians cited menstruation as the reason for not allowing female deacons or priests.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
