CLERIC Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

cleric

noun

ˈkler-ik

Definition of cleric

as in priest

a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church clerics were sharply divided on the issue of whether the war was morally justified

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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 cleric Relations between the powerful church and Pashinyan's government have deteriorated rapidly since 2024, when tens of thousands of demonstrators, led by a high-ranking cleric, called for his ouster. — Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026 In the first report, senior cleric Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, a relative of the Khamenei family by marriage, claimed Pezeshkian had repeatedly threatened to resign and was warned that his next resignation would be accepted. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Yet the mental horizons of Maucci and his associates were wider and more mobile than those of the big shots, small-time lawyers, and clerics who’d remained to vegetate in their old Lunigiana. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 Funeral includes prayers and calls for revenge Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a 97-year-old Shiite cleric, led the prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla for Khamenei and his late family members. — Nasser Karimi, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cleric

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleric

Noun

In 1972, William Christopher joined the cast of M*A*S*H as Father John Mulcahy, the Catholic priest who serves as the Army chaplain.

— Rachel Flynn, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
For the traditional Telugu Hindu ceremony, their priest translated Sanskrit to English in real time, and the mandap was designed as a circle to represent how life flows into itself for eternity.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of priest

Noun

Soon, the vast stadium was packed — not with rugby fans or concertgoers, but with thousands who came to pray with an African preacher.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
The hunting buddies thank God and good friends that McCoy, a Baptist preacher, survived the attack at all.

— Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of preacher

Browse Nearby Words

clergywomen

cleric

clerical

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“Cleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleric. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cleric

noun

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