as in church
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church
when people find out she's a member of the clergy, they suddenly change their manner
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Recent Examples of clergy
McCall said members of the clergy would begin to patrol the Stillwell station.
—
Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 28 Mar. 2025
Survivors who were abused by people in positions of authority such as clergy, educators and law enforcement — including correctional officers — may be even more reluctant to share their stories.
—Amanda Hernandez, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
Cardinals and other high-ranking clergy praying for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday evening.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Will that change under Trump 2.0? Love Trump or hate him, all Jews should object to his appropriation of ‘Shalom’ | Commentary
Photographs of the clergy holding the sign made it into much of the media coverage of the event.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 28 Mar. 2025
Survivors who were abused by people in positions of authority such as clergy, educators and law enforcement — including correctional officers — may be even more reluctant to share their stories.
—Amanda Hernandez, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
Cardinals and other high-ranking clergy praying for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday evening.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Will that change under Trump 2.0? Love Trump or hate him, all Jews should object to his appropriation of ‘Shalom’ | Commentary
Photographs of the clergy holding the sign made it into much of the media coverage of the event.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergy
Noun
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The company partners with senior living centers, churches, and insurance providers to offer on-site classes, giving accessibility to those who may not have the resources or mobility to visit a gym.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Fact to know: In collaboration with the Dilworth Historic Commission, the project team used traditional materials and techniques — including the help of a master stonemason with access to original quarries — to ensure consistency with the church’s limestone facade.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Amicable relations had long existed between the Catholic Church in Rome and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but the Roman episcopate embraced Mussolini’s regime and its aggressive foreign policy in the mid-1930s.—
Ian Campbell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Feb. 2022
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The selection of Bishop McElroy, whose diocese has never been led by a cardinal, sends a message about the pope’s wish for a more liberal orientation for the U.S. episcopate.—
Francis X. Rocca,
WSJ,
29 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergy. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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