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
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Recent Examples of priests
Pastors, priests, rabbis, and imams are in the streets, courthouses, and places of worship defending immigrant communities.
—
David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
For nearly a millennia and half, even in the centuries when physicians were beginning to supplant priests in treating the ill, epileptic convulsions (unexpected, frightening, enigmatic) remained the territory of the priest.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
George Gross, an expert on theology and the monarchy at King’s College London, highlighted the church’s continuing divergence from the Catholic Church, which forbids women from being ordained as priests, much less as serving as the religion’s global spiritual leader.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Yolanda recruited gillagers into the growing movement to topple Marcos that Catholic priests instructed in liberation theology were leading.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Atheists experience faith and priests become atheists.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
For example, of the three priests who came here many centuries ago to fast and meditate—and who are considered the ancestors of the locals.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Also present were roughly 100 priests from the diocese.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
In response, the provincial governor, Juan de Oñate, consulted with Franciscan priests and then ordered a counterattack.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
For nearly a millennia and half, even in the centuries when physicians were beginning to supplant priests in treating the ill, epileptic convulsions (unexpected, frightening, enigmatic) remained the territory of the priest.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
George Gross, an expert on theology and the monarchy at King’s College London, highlighted the church’s continuing divergence from the Catholic Church, which forbids women from being ordained as priests, much less as serving as the religion’s global spiritual leader.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Yolanda recruited gillagers into the growing movement to topple Marcos that Catholic priests instructed in liberation theology were leading.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Atheists experience faith and priests become atheists.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
For example, of the three priests who came here many centuries ago to fast and meditate—and who are considered the ancestors of the locals.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Also present were roughly 100 priests from the diocese.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
In response, the provincial governor, Juan de Oñate, consulted with Franciscan priests and then ordered a counterattack.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priests
Noun
-
Smith belongs to a generation of preachers who first came to prominence in the aughts.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The Australian Federal Police are also looking into alleged hate preachers as part of their investigation and will execute further search warrants in the coming days, police commissioner Krissy Barrett said on Thursday.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
She was nominated by a 17-member commission composed of clerics and lay people and her appointment was confirmed by King Charles III, who is the supreme governor of the church.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Otherwise disparate segments of Iranian society, such as the conservative Bazaari merchants hitherto largely loyal to the clerics and more liberal and secular Iranian youth, shared this overarching goal.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Delcy Rodríguez is Venezuela’s new president, but the country’s powerful defense and interior ministers could decide the future of Chavismo — and the nation.—
Terrence McCoy,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino, two of Maduro’s most important ministers, have made a point of speaking publicly many times over the weekend.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Last December, they were ordained to be transitional deacons by Cardinal Robert McElroy, who was then head of the San Diego diocese and is both a controversial and consequential figure in the Catholic church.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Dec. 2025
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As eight priests, two deacons and the Milwaukee archbishop celebrated Mass at the altar, Grunwaldt skirted the back, quietly keeping the operation running.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
26 Nov. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Priests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priests. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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