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
There was no longer any mechanism to manufacture trust and stimulate voluntary citizen idea generation and problem solving, no space any more for spontaneous working informality for business leaders, educators, politicians, public officials, wealthy scions of old families, clergy, etc.
—
Stephen B. Young, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Attorneys for the clergy members have argued that the visits have not strained operations at the facility, which processes local immigrants before they are sent to longer-term detention centers out of state.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Several community leaders and clergy members opposed the project during a public hearing prior to the vote.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The task force — made up of civic leaders, legal experts, clergy, and community representatives — spent months reviewing research and hearing from residents.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Stephen B. Young, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Attorneys for the clergy members have argued that the visits have not strained operations at the facility, which processes local immigrants before they are sent to longer-term detention centers out of state.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Several community leaders and clergy members opposed the project during a public hearing prior to the vote.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The task force — made up of civic leaders, legal experts, clergy, and community representatives — spent months reviewing research and hearing from residents.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergy
Noun
-
Those who stay at the shelter check in at Upper Rodeo Park before being transported to a shelter location, which is typically a local church.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The hearse, a limousine and row of cars were lined up outside the church when the gunfire erupted, witnesses and mourners who attended the funeral said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The diaconate represents the Church’s third degree of holy orders, below the presbyterate, or priests, and episcopate, or bishops.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
5 Dec. 2025
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Vatican observers have long speculated that Francis saw Prevost as a potential successor, especially given his rapid rise and central role in shaping the modern episcopate.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergy. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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