as in ecclesiastical
of or relating to a church
a council to make final determinations on ecclesiastic matters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
as the leading ecclesiastic for his church in the state, the bishop must be beyond reproach in everything he does
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 ecclesiastic
Jonathan Schlefer, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2015
America has no aristocracy or ecclesiastic master class.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 12 Feb. 2022
The Vatican defended the extension by saying the agreement was purely ecclesiastic and pastoral in nature, and not political.
—Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 22 Oct. 2020
The motif appeared in ecclesiastic architecture from the 13th to the 15th centuries.
—Jasper Bastian, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Sep. 2020
The church is an example of early ecclesiastic architecture, is the second oldest synagogue remaining in Cincinnati and is the oldest still church still used for religious purposes.
—Max Londberg, Cincinnati.com, 5 Aug. 2019
Wuerl’s denial corresponds with the public record, which provides ample evidence that McCarrick lived a life completely devoid of ecclesiastic restriction after the sanctions were said to have been imposed in 2009 or 2010.
—Nicole Winfield, The Seattle Times, 28 Aug. 2018
To Poroshenko, who came to power in 2014 after violent protests ousted his pro-Moscow predecessor, Ukraine's ecclesiastic independence is not just a matter of squabbles of elderly, long-bearded men with archaic names.
—Mansur Mirovalev, latimes.com, 29 May 2018
At both, models wore crucifix-adorned masks that nodded to the dark universe of Joel-Peter Witkin and brocades that seemed to reference ecclesiastic garments.
—Vogue, 24 Apr. 2018
Victor Pérez-Díaz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013
Of all the precious goods accumulated by the rulers and ecclesiastics of late medieval Ethiopia, the most charged of all were books.
—Peter Brown, The New York Review of Books, 24 Sep. 2020
This shop for ecclesiastics has an exquisite selection of high-quality pieces.
—Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2019
Rather, Ryrie, a prize-winning historian as well as an ecclesiastic, has broadened his scope to take in nearly 750 years of doubt and disbelief in the professedly Christian West.
—Graham Hillard, National Review, 5 Dec. 2019
The old cloister, as the walled domain of the Chapter of Canons was called, housed unusual and not invariably pious persons, as well as the worldly ecclesiastics themselves.
—Bruce Dale, National Geographic, 17 Apr. 2019
This was the Fairy Tree L’Arbre des Dames or Le Beau Mai tree, whereupon extra-ecclesiastic celebrations were staged.
—C.d. Wright, Harper's magazine, 10 Jan. 2019
There are nearly 70 community leaders — from entrepreneurs to ecclesiastics (and a rabbi thrown in for good measure) — who have joined to address the problems that have held Louisville back for decades.
—Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2018
Adjective
As Sheldon Wolin, author of Politics and Vision, and many others have pointed out, the Middle Ages and Renaissance saw a powerful flow of ideas from ecclesiastic to secular political philosophy.
—Jonathan Schlefer, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2015
America has no aristocracy or ecclesiastic master class.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 12 Feb. 2022
The Vatican defended the extension by saying the agreement was purely ecclesiastic and pastoral in nature, and not political.
—Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 22 Oct. 2020
The motif appeared in ecclesiastic architecture from the 13th to the 15th centuries.
—Jasper Bastian, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Sep. 2020
The church is an example of early ecclesiastic architecture, is the second oldest synagogue remaining in Cincinnati and is the oldest still church still used for religious purposes.
—Max Londberg, Cincinnati.com, 5 Aug. 2019
Wuerl’s denial corresponds with the public record, which provides ample evidence that McCarrick lived a life completely devoid of ecclesiastic restriction after the sanctions were said to have been imposed in 2009 or 2010.
—Nicole Winfield, The Seattle Times, 28 Aug. 2018
To Poroshenko, who came to power in 2014 after violent protests ousted his pro-Moscow predecessor, Ukraine's ecclesiastic independence is not just a matter of squabbles of elderly, long-bearded men with archaic names.
—Mansur Mirovalev, latimes.com, 29 May 2018
At both, models wore crucifix-adorned masks that nodded to the dark universe of Joel-Peter Witkin and brocades that seemed to reference ecclesiastic garments.
—Vogue, 24 Apr. 2018
Noun
The end result was a new brand of ecclesiastics and lay Catholics who felt comfortable detaching themselves from Franco’s regime, or even fighting it head-on in a variety of forums, including student movements, intellectual circles, unions, political parties, and the media.
—Victor Pérez-Díaz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013
Of all the precious goods accumulated by the rulers and ecclesiastics of late medieval Ethiopia, the most charged of all were books.
—Peter Brown, The New York Review of Books, 24 Sep. 2020
This shop for ecclesiastics has an exquisite selection of high-quality pieces.
—Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2019
Rather, Ryrie, a prize-winning historian as well as an ecclesiastic, has broadened his scope to take in nearly 750 years of doubt and disbelief in the professedly Christian West.
—Graham Hillard, National Review, 5 Dec. 2019
The old cloister, as the walled domain of the Chapter of Canons was called, housed unusual and not invariably pious persons, as well as the worldly ecclesiastics themselves.
—Bruce Dale, National Geographic, 17 Apr. 2019
This was the Fairy Tree L’Arbre des Dames or Le Beau Mai tree, whereupon extra-ecclesiastic celebrations were staged.
—C.d. Wright, Harper's magazine, 10 Jan. 2019
There are nearly 70 community leaders — from entrepreneurs to ecclesiastics (and a rabbi thrown in for good measure) — who have joined to address the problems that have held Louisville back for decades.
—Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ecclesiastic
Adjective
-
By Caroline Reilly October 25, 2024 When Suzie Davies began preparations to create the ecclesiastical world for Edward Berger’s papal thriller, Conclave, she was immersed in a decidedly different world: that of Saltburn.Caroline Reilly, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2024
-
The rooms feel austere and indulgent, while Italian flea market finds rub shoulders with bespoke pieces crafted with an ecclesiastical bent.Paul Jebara, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
The hot priest advises Eddie to earn forgiveness and stop punishing himself and then suggests that Eddie do something joyful after his penance.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Slate says that, in 1905, an issue of The Cambrian, a magazine for Welsh Americans, featured an anecdote involving a priest who, following a service, pulled a clerk aside to ask whether his sermon had been long enough.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Social psychology experiments show that people often cope with the specter of death by attaching themselves to cultural ideologies, such as religious, political, or even sports fandom.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
-
Martinez might’ve wanted to distract from his flip-flop, or to court his party’s religious right base.Allison Mashell Mitchell / Made by History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Unwilling to let the hate go unchallenged, May and Saint decided to kiss in front of the hate preachers and have their friend, Alie Strehl (@potatecreates on Instagram), take a photo.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
-
The phone rings, the subway busker hollers, the preacher sermonizes, the garbage truck backs up, the microwave announces that dinner is hot — and every one of those ordinary acoustic events, boosted by digital technology, clamors for our attention, mostly with little success.Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
The first hint of photosynthesis came from experiments by English clergyman and scientist Joseph Priestly.Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Among the clergymen cited in the lawsuits that were settled Wednesday, Father Michael Baker is one of the priests with the most victims.Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Chicago on Sept. 11, 2020, and ordained two months later.Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
-
To evade Western sanctions, the Chinese Communist Party uses less bloody and more hidden methods of coercion against these bishops than the show trials and physical ...Nina Shea, National Review, 22 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ecclesiastic
Cite this Entry
“Ecclesiastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ecclesiastic. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share