as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
majestically robed in priestly garments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 priestly
The names were common, but for good reason, as the Hasmonean priestly family was so revered.
—
Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
The text records royal decrees including tax relief during poor Nile floods; donations to temples; the creation of a new priestly office; a festival tied to the heliacal rising of Sirius; and a calendar reform introducing a leap day every four years.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
In 1997, Greenspan read an article in the Times about a group of geneticists who had tested the Y chromosomes of Jewish men who believed themselves to be part of an ancient priestly tradition called the cohanim.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
The priestly fraternity, named in honor of the anti-modernist Pope St. Pius X, was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as a response to liturgical reforms made in the Second Vatican Council (also known as Vatican II).
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priestly
Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
The text records royal decrees including tax relief during poor Nile floods; donations to temples; the creation of a new priestly office; a festival tied to the heliacal rising of Sirius; and a calendar reform introducing a leap day every four years.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
In 1997, Greenspan read an article in the Times about a group of geneticists who had tested the Y chromosomes of Jewish men who believed themselves to be part of an ancient priestly tradition called the cohanim.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
The priestly fraternity, named in honor of the anti-modernist Pope St. Pius X, was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as a response to liturgical reforms made in the Second Vatican Council (also known as Vatican II).
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priestly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for priestly
Adjective
-
Other heritage suites are less intimidatingly ministerial.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Shah, who is the RSP’s prime ministerial candidate, won the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral race.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sure sounds like the Tap are having a dig at pastoral English songs like the one above.—
Brett Milano,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The group participated in a foot-washing ritual before three clergy leaders made their way inside to administer pastoral care to those who wanted it.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Experts are split on the subject, but Alfoneh argued the key differences will be a greater stress on Iranian nationalism and less concern with the puritanical social policies of the clerical government.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr will replace Ali Larijani, whose death in Israeli strikes last week was a major blow to the ruling clerical regime.—
Charlene Gubash,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Priestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/priestly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
