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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 cleric
Taking Blaine by the hand, the Rev. Samuel D. Burchard pledged the backing of the clerics with shots at Blaine’s critics and veiled allusions to Cleveland’s private life.
—
Robert B. Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
The 60-year-old cleric has had a visible presence across Hezbollah’s political stage, especially over the past year.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
On November 4, 1979, student supporters of the Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking dozens of American citizens hostage for 444 days.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
The terrorist group announced on Tuesday that Islamic cleric Naim Qassem would take the reins of the organization after serving as its deputy secretary-general for decades.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleric 
Robert B. Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
The 60-year-old cleric has had a visible presence across Hezbollah’s political stage, especially over the past year.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
On November 4, 1979, student supporters of the Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking dozens of American citizens hostage for 444 days.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
The terrorist group announced on Tuesday that Islamic cleric Naim Qassem would take the reins of the organization after serving as its deputy secretary-general for decades.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleric
Thesaurus Entries Near cleric
Cite this Entry
“Cleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleric. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share