as in preacher
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of priest
Accompanied by ringing bells, ethereal music and chanting hymns, the priests gracefully moved their arms in unison, holding up various flaming brass lamps during the 45-minute serene and powerful ritual.
—
Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
These thoughts and the current battle over immigration brought me to the work of the Reverend Dan Groody, a Catholic priest and a professor of theology at Notre Dame, who spent years working in Latin America.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2026
The old Latin Mass features readings and hymns in Latin with the priest facing the altar, his back to the faithful in the pews.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Her husband, Theodore Gibson, was a priest, civil-rights leader and tireless advocate for Coconut Grove’s Black community.
—Najahe Sherman, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for priest
Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
These thoughts and the current battle over immigration brought me to the work of the Reverend Dan Groody, a Catholic priest and a professor of theology at Notre Dame, who spent years working in Latin America.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2026
The old Latin Mass features readings and hymns in Latin with the priest facing the altar, his back to the faithful in the pews.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Her husband, Theodore Gibson, was a priest, civil-rights leader and tireless advocate for Coconut Grove’s Black community.
—Najahe Sherman, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for priest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priest
Noun
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Jim Sawyer, a gentlemanly preacher and city council member whose public service had been winding towards a peaceful conclusion, was asked to replace him.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Scott said in a statement of his father playing multiple roles as a preacher, priest or pastor.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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With Hicks, Leo is appointing a cleric who seems both like himself and distinctly different from the boisterous Cardinal Dolan.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
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The men will join a long procession of clerics in the walk to the main altar.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The clergyman connected Webster with another church member who was a criminal-defense lawyer.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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While taking part in a procession in town, on the Feast Day for St. Francis, Joe suddenly rose up into the air, terrifying himself and the other clergymen.—
Christian Wiman,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Sheen, a pioneering 20th century TV evangelist, had his 2019 ceremony canceled with just weeks’ notice due to concerns about his tenure as Rochester bishop.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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This United States Conference of Catholic Bishops call for an hour of prayer, which can be offered publicly or privately, went out to every bishop, priest and the laity, according to Rockford Diocese spokesperson Penny Wiegert.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The most public sign of tension was the South African mining minister’s criticism of DR Congo for signing its recent minerals deal with Washington.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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In addition to Brooks’s attack on Sumner, Quincy noted that a Tennessee minister had been forced to leave his church after denouncing the beating of an enslaved person, and a Virginia politician had been barred from returning home after attending a northern political convention.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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What to expect at the installation Mass The longer-than-normal Mass will have a large attendance with many religious figures such as bishops, priests, deacons and other guests.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
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David was a doctor at the hospital and a deacon at his church.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Rae Chen Huang, a housing rights advocate and ordained pastor, has emerged as one of the most left-leaning candidates in the race, calling for sweeping changes to the city’s housing, public safety and governance systems.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
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Dawn Baldwin Gibson is a pastor in New Bern, North Carolina.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As the good reverend so eloquently explained, tension or conflict is not a time to run.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 Jan. 2026
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Matthew Long, a reverend at Portland’s Sudanese Fellowship Presbyterian Church, said that his community of South Sudanese worshippers panicked after hearing the news of TPS ending.—
Yamiche Alcindor,
NBC news,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priest. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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