as in prioress
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Recent Examples of abbess
When the abbess died in 866, she was buried in the abbey church.
—
Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024
Groff imagined the poet Marie de France as a teenager forced to venture into the dark woods to serve as the abbess.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
It’s been nearly 14 centuries since the monastery founded by St. Hild of Whitby, a prominent abbess in 7th century Anglo-Saxon England, hosted the Northumbrian kingdom’s assembly to discuss the date on which its Christian church would celebrate Easter.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023
One of them was the abbess of a female religious community in Kent from around 733 to 761 CE, which is consistent with the dating of MS Selden Supra 30.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for abbess
Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024
Groff imagined the poet Marie de France as a teenager forced to venture into the dark woods to serve as the abbess.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
It’s been nearly 14 centuries since the monastery founded by St. Hild of Whitby, a prominent abbess in 7th century Anglo-Saxon England, hosted the Northumbrian kingdom’s assembly to discuss the date on which its Christian church would celebrate Easter.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023
One of them was the abbess of a female religious community in Kent from around 733 to 761 CE, which is consistent with the dating of MS Selden Supra 30.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for abbess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abbess
Noun
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Matrix by Lauren Groff Currents of violence and devotion coalesce around Marie de France, a 17-year-old sent to be the new prioress of a 12th-century English abbey.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
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In response, the diocese said in a statement that the Holy See has acted toward healing the Arlington Carmel and the nuns in the community and not simply the former prioress and her former councilors.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2024
Noun
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If the devoted nun resembles the raving patient, does that not justify locking them away, protecting ourselves from their unsettling power?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Police are renewing efforts to solve a 20-year-old hit-and-run that killed a nun in Northeast Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the medieval church, women’s roles were limited – usually some form of enclosure and celibacy, such as becoming an anchoress walled up alone for life, or a nun in a classic convent.—
Joelle Rollo-Koster,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
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Louise, a former anchoress, is her humble, tyrannical maid.—
Hervé Guibert,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Harper and Yasmin, who’s emerged as the series’ co-lead, started out among Pierpoint’s newest hires; by the end of Season 3, the firm had been effectively dissolved, its novice traders scattered to the winds.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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The story of how 36-year-old novice producer Robert Evans became the head of production at Paramount in 1966 is the stuff of legend.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Officially dubbed the Air Max Goadome Cowboy Boot, the black leather shoe has double monk strap embossed with Public School branding wrapping across the tongue.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
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One monk needed to have his leg amputated, while the other suffered less severe injuries.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Nigerian-British actress Mosaku is recognized in the supporting actress category for her role as powerful Hoodoo priestess Annie in Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror, which scored the most Oscar nominations ever.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
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In it, Swift evokes the titular Trojan priestess, who was tragically given the gift of prophecy and yet no one believes her.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
chicagotribune.com,
11 Sep. 2020
Noun
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The most recent abbot, Father Charles Albanese, will be splitting time between Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey in Oregon and Santa Rita Abbey in Arizona.—
John Mossman,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
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The abbot later said the temple would cover her medical expenses, according to Pairat.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abbess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abbess. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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