as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
a clergyperson of your choice would be the best one to advise on this spiritual matter
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Recent Examples of clergyperson
What makes the family tradition sustainable in central Massachusetts, where the Vallelis now live, is a pastor-sharing arrangement between two congregations that couldn’t afford a full-time clergyperson on their own.
—
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2020
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergyperson
Noun
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Copyright law doesn’t protect general ideas — or incidents, characters and settings considered standard in the treatment of particular topics (think a priest in a movie about possession) — only the particular expression of those ideas.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
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The ‘20s house guests mingle with priests and nuns from the house’s church days and the souls of her mother and father, who each died inside.—
Nicolas Rivero,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The family later moved to Tulsa, Okla., where his father became a preacher and his mother, Joyce (Schott) Ray, managed the home.—
Clay Risen,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
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Bruer, 67, had served in at least 22 states and territories and seven countries since 1976, according to a timeline compiled by Pam Walton, a former member who has used historical records and photographs to track the movements of predatory preachers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Most songs concern a protagonist who pursued a career as a clergyman despite a lack of faith.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2025
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In 2005, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, the leading Shiite clergyman, was forced to mediate between rival Shiite groups amid a deadly Sunni insurgency.—
Ranj Alaaldin,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Sep. 2018
Noun
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The noted pastor and his wife are encouraging others to be intentional about their healing journey by offering a safe space.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
28 Jan. 2025
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During the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s, several pastors and theologians joined forces to resist the influence of Nazi doctrine over German Protestant churches.—
Joanne M. Pierce,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near clergyperson
Cite this Entry
“Clergyperson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergyperson. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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