as in temporal
not involving religion or religious matters
that's an issue for the secular authorities, not the church
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 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
Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Most were secular, or observed religion privately and with restraint.
—Kian Tajbakhsh, The Atlantic, 27 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
With so many layoffs recently, is the gaming industry—as in pew pew, not ka-ching ka-ching—going through a temporary reset or a secular decline?
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Most were secular, or observed religion privately and with restraint.
—Kian Tajbakhsh, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for secular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secular
Adjective
-
By fusing spiritual and temporal power, the period’s absurd-seeming battles over mystical doctrine—was the blood truly present in the chalice, or merely indicated in it?—were inseparable from struggles for worldly authority.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
-
The actors don’t visibly age, thereby reminding the audience of time’s passage; the characters themselves often exist in a temporal bubble, where Bart Simpson is forever in fourth grade and Bikini Bottom remains on the ocean floor.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
In layman’s terms: Make your business too real to ignore.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
In layman’s terms, your portion of the Oklo pie has just become a bit smaller.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Several nonreligious practices create opportunities to explore spirituality beyond religious affiliation.—
Morgan Shipley,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2022
-
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
Noun
-
Similarly, no layperson will need to understand how standards like HSML, HSTP, or UDG work.—
Gabriel René,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 July 2025
-
To a layperson, technology and biological life may seem like opposite poles.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secular. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share