as in temporal
not involving religion or religious matters
that's an issue for the secular authorities, not the church
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Recent Examples of secular
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2023
These data imply to me that the secular are getting idiocratic faster than the fundamentalists.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2012
Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2025
One of the most prominent voices is that of the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the late Shah of Iran, who has long advocated for a secular and democratic alternative to the Islamic Republic.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for secular
Adjective
There was a change of heart among the secular nationalists during the second intifada—which started in 2000 and ended in 2005—in which seculars also joined forces.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2023
These data imply to me that the secular are getting idiocratic faster than the fundamentalists.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2012
Noun
Modi’s secular opponents may enjoy watching the diminishment of Modi at the hands of the RSS.
—Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2025
One of the most prominent voices is that of the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the late Shah of Iran, who has long advocated for a secular and democratic alternative to the Islamic Republic.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for secular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secular
Adjective
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Generally, Proverbs-Job-Ecclesiastes can be viewed as a temporal trilogy reflecting certainty about wealth and health type rewards in this life for righteousness, with a transition to questioning any such connection, and then cynicism.—
Walt Shelton,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
In recent years, the editors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have added factors ranging from climate change to artificial intelligence into their temporal calculus.—
Jonathon Keats,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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India’s lower batting order stunk the place out in layman’s terms - a crucial difference between winning and losing.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The immaculate print appeared to this layman’s eye to look about as sharp as contemporary digital Imax, but with the celluloid origins and print adding additional richness.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program allows families to use state dollars that would have followed their child to a traditional public school to instead pay for a private, parochial or nonreligious school.—
Caroline Beck,
IndyStar,
10 July 2025
-
Soldiers seeking a nonreligious exemption will need a temporary medical profile and an exception-to-policy memo from a lieutenant colonel in the chain of command.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
8 July 2025
Noun
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To a layperson, technology and biological life may seem like opposite poles.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Living in Colorado gave the family the option to explore the hemp, at the time defined as marijuana and a schedule I substance that couldn't be studied or accessed by a layperson.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secular. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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