ECCLESIASTIC Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

ecclesiastic 1 of 2

adjective

i-ˌklē-zē-ˈa-stik

Definition of ecclesiastic

as in ecclesiastical

of or relating to a church a council to make final determinations on ecclesiastic matters

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ecclesiastic

2 of 2

a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church as the leading ecclesiastic for his church in the state, the bishop must be beyond reproach in everything he does

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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 ecclesiastic

Adjective

This will be followed by a final period in Florence to learn the technique and historical evolution of egg tempera, to acquire ancient handweaving skills and expand her knowledge of its applications in the ecclesiastic context. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 May 2026 Back then, Kennedy was constantly fending off accusations from Protestant ecclesiastic types who were wary that his nomination meant the pontiff, John XXIII, was already packing his bags for a move into the White House. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Waugh was based for many years in a grand house in nearby Combe Florey and adapted this local ecclesiastic landmark for fictional purposes. — Literary Hub, 12 Feb. 2026 Think of it like an ecclesiastic LinkedIn. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025 Forbidden passion fueled the plot of The Thorn Birds in which the late Richard Chamberlain, played the priest Ralph de Bricassart, a heartthrob in ecclesiastic wear. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025 The Vatican defended the extension by saying the agreement was purely ecclesiastic and pastoral in nature, and not political. — Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 22 Oct. 2020 But Thondup is also sharply critical of the Tibetan political and ecclesiastic elite for their gross mismanagement of their relations with China. — Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016

Noun

Of all the precious goods accumulated by the rulers and ecclesiastics of late medieval Ethiopia, the most charged of all were books. — Peter Brown, The New York Review of Books, 24 Sep. 2020 This shop for ecclesiastics has an exquisite selection of high-quality pieces. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2019 Rather, Ryrie, a prize-winning historian as well as an ecclesiastic, has broadened his scope to take in nearly 750 years of doubt and disbelief in the professedly Christian West. — Graham Hillard, National Review, 5 Dec. 2019 The old cloister, as the walled domain of the Chapter of Canons was called, housed unusual and not invariably pious persons, as well as the worldly ecclesiastics themselves. — Bruce Dale, National Geographic, 17 Apr. 2019 This was the Fairy Tree L’Arbre des Dames or Le Beau Mai tree, whereupon extra-ecclesiastic celebrations were staged. — C.d. Wright, Harper's magazine, 10 Jan. 2019 There are nearly 70 community leaders — from entrepreneurs to ecclesiastics (and a rabbi thrown in for good measure) — who have joined to address the problems that have held Louisville back for decades. — Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ecclesiastic

Adjective

Any matters requiring legal enforcement are referred directly to the Texas judicial system, said the tribunal, which likened its work to the services provided by Jewish Beth Din courts and Catholic ecclesiastical tribunals.

— David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Two courts have now agreed that Gateway's affairs were inherently ecclesiastical and beyond the court's jurisdiction.

— Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of ecclesiastical

Noun

For a second day Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
According to the attorneys, the priests targeted more than 100 young Black children at Holy Angels parish between 1969 and 2002.

— CBS Chicago Team, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of priest

Adjective

Its accompanying music video, directed by longtime U2 collaborator Anton Corbijn, was filmed in the California desert and satirizes the band as a religious cult in which women do the heavy lifting.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week Hasan’s execution would be livestreamed, eliciting pushback from Democrats, Republicans and religious advocates about the idea.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of religious

Noun

When Yakovlev mentioned the clergyman who attended the death-bed, Adelaide expressed surprise that John had asked to see a pastor.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
The seeds are then planted in California, where Eddie Anderson, a clergyman, political organizer and the founder of Freedom Farms Collective, helps oversee their growth.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of clergyman

Noun

On April 18, 1049, the pope exempted a nunnery in Alsace – now in Sainte-Croix-en-Plaine, France – from the legal authority and supervision of the local bishop.

— Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
Warren Jeffs then appointed Nephi Jeffs, another brother, as bishop.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of bishop

Browse Nearby Words

ecclesial

ecclesiastic

ecclesiastical

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“Ecclesiastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ecclesiastic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ecclesiastic

adjective

noun

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