1
as in calligraphers
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
variations between the different manuscripts attest to the fallibility of the scribes who transmitted them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in clerks
an official whose job is to keep records
the scribe keeps the minutes of the club's meetings
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in writers
a person who creates a written work
a book of dusty poems by some now-forgotten scribe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scribes
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Maritime and overland trade linked blacksmiths, scribes, religious scholars, bead makers, silk weavers and tattoo artists.
—R. Alexander Bentley, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026
Studies estimate that European scribes produced approximately 11 million books over the 900 years before the printing press.
—Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
This was common practice in ancient times, as parchments were expensive, leading scribes to reuse old manuscripts to archive new information.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
Does the use of ambient AI scribes improve patient care and health outcomes?
—Michelle Andrews, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2026
The scribes replaced by movable type lost their livelihoods, but literacy spread to millions.
—Zack Kass, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
On the television side, the scribes sold Misfit City to HBO Max, with Boom!
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Catullus’s poems disappeared from the Western canon for centuries (likely because medieval Christian scribes avoided copying lurid pagan texts) yet were rediscovered and reprinted in the Renaissance, and are still alive millennia later, when would-be censors are long forgotten.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Wise-cracking scribes wanted changes.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Maritime and overland trade linked blacksmiths, scribes, religious scholars, bead makers, silk weavers and tattoo artists.
—R. Alexander Bentley, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026
Studies estimate that European scribes produced approximately 11 million books over the 900 years before the printing press.
—Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
This was common practice in ancient times, as parchments were expensive, leading scribes to reuse old manuscripts to archive new information.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
Does the use of ambient AI scribes improve patient care and health outcomes?
—Michelle Andrews, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2026
The scribes replaced by movable type lost their livelihoods, but literacy spread to millions.
—Zack Kass, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
On the television side, the scribes sold Misfit City to HBO Max, with Boom!
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Catullus’s poems disappeared from the Western canon for centuries (likely because medieval Christian scribes avoided copying lurid pagan texts) yet were rediscovered and reprinted in the Renaissance, and are still alive millennia later, when would-be censors are long forgotten.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
But this award, which was inaugurated in 2023 with a Jesso win, circles the same handful of writers, and country scribes like Jessie Jo Dillon, pop bards like Amy Allen, and reggaeton men-at-arms like Edgar Barrera are just as up next.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scribes
Noun
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Founded in the 10th century, this complex of churches was a crucible of wisdom for calligraphers, philosophers and illuminators.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Mustapha comes from a family of Islamic scholars and calligraphers.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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If clerks or suppliers can’t answer conclusively, that’s a red flag.—
David Kroll,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Most went to school administrators and classified school staff, such as clerks, administrative assistants and paraeducators.—
EdSource,
Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lorne Michaels is executive producing the show, and Variety reported that Michaels and SNL alum Seth Meyers have recently been in London observing table reads as the cast and writers prepare for the premiere.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Mar. 2026
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Posey, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, is the greatest catcher in franchise history and could be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame next year in his debut appearance on the writers’ ballot.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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House Republicans aren’t all persuaded by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s attempt to defuse a bipartisan investigation into the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files — but some are appearing to waver.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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Founding editor Jon Greenberg files columns from Chicago throughout the season, too.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And in ordinary academic buildings and offices tucked up in the corners of the athletic department, university registrars and academic advisors were setting their hair on fire, trying to figure out how to approve transcripts and shoehorn new students into classes that were already full.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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Advertisement For the next several years, activists knocked on the doors of sharecroppers and drove folks to county registrars’ offices, often facing denials or delays, arrests, and violence.—
Time,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For older sharks, the authors said, socializing may not be as integral to survival.—
BRADY DENNIS THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
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This essay is part of a series developed in collaboration with World Business Chicago wherein accomplished authors envision what Chicago could and should look like in 2050.—
Mary Schmich,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That only scratches the surface of Dolphins possibilities in free agency.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Keep clean door mats inside and outside entrance areas to trap gritty dirt that scratches floors.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But a group of eight secretaries of state wants that in writing from the nominee to succeed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Governors are often good cabinet secretaries.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scribes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scribes. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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