as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
clerical duties such as providing spiritual counseling and leading Bible study classes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church
some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clerical
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
It was founded by a number of Shi‘ite clerical groups during the Lebanese Civil War, in direct response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
The clerical leadership held Americans hostage for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the country’s international standing.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
City staff cited various examples of how San Jose is using — or plans to use — AI, including road safety detection, language translation and streamlining routine clerical tasks.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Adjective
Those unions represent school police, school clerical workers and custodial and cafeteria supervisors, among others.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
It was founded by a number of Shi‘ite clerical groups during the Lebanese Civil War, in direct response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
The clerical leadership held Americans hostage for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the country’s international standing.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
City staff cited various examples of how San Jose is using — or plans to use — AI, including road safety detection, language translation and streamlining routine clerical tasks.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clerical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerical
Adjective
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The new bishop, who has spent his ministerial career in the nation's capital and surrounding communities, will work in a less Catholic and more rural region, overseeing the diocese’s 61,000 Catholics and 92 parishes throughout West Virginia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
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The National Development and Reform Commission is a ministerial-level agency of the State Council and functions as a central economic planning and industrial policy body within the Chinese government.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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She was pulled into a scheme involving a man who posed as a priest, another posing as an immigration judge, and another posing as Oscar Carrillo, an attorney licensed in Texas who practices tax law.—
Naisha Roy,
ProPublica,
29 Apr. 2026
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During the investigation, police found the vehicle’s license plate using cameras in the area, and then used that information, along with details provided by the teen, to identify the then-priest as the suspect.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Few wallpapers can nurture a childhood love of Fauvism with so little effort, but this ambling and pastoral mural can raise your little one to appreciate the finer things in life.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
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Set in a pastoral Kenyan village, Star’s battle for her identity puts her at odds with her community.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Officials further described him as a longtime preacher.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The character later married the town’s preacher played by a pre-Three’s Company John Ritter.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps the most sensitive matter is Iran, a nation of nasty clerics and old-time belligerents that declared war on America and Israel 47 years ago.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Instead, statements attributed to the 56-year-old cleric have been read out on national television or posted on social media.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerical. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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