as in synod
formal
a private or secret meeting or group
a conclave of bishops
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Recent Examples of conclave
In 16th-century Italy, Roman merchants reportedly partnered with cardinals’ papal conclave attendants to wager on who would be named the new pope.
—
Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
The group’s new music was mostly shaped at a recent conclave and relies far more on bandstand invention than previous projects.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
The break was long and torturous for fans but clearly restorative for Styles, who lolled in the Italian countryside with Alessandro Michele, bonded with a new niece, and found himself unassumingly among the masses in the Vatican when the conclave elected Pope Leo XIV last June.
—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conclave
Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
The group’s new music was mostly shaped at a recent conclave and relies far more on bandstand invention than previous projects.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
The break was long and torturous for fans but clearly restorative for Styles, who lolled in the Italian countryside with Alessandro Michele, bonded with a new niece, and found himself unassumingly among the masses in the Vatican when the conclave elected Pope Leo XIV last June.
—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conclave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclave
Noun
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Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, spent two weeks sitting with Fuanya at the same table during Pope Francis’ 2024 big meeting, or synod, on the family.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Casey said the synod, the first in the 19-county archdiocese since 1971, will be designed to give all Catholics an opportunity to weigh in on issues that are important to them.—
Dan Horn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted the meeting, which was also attended by Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Since 2022, the Irish have stationed a permanent police liaison officer in the Emirates, and have regularly flown senior police officers and political figures to the Emirates for meetings.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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During a time not unlike the one that ignited the historic founding of Chicano Park, thousands of people turned out Saturday at the iconic gathering space to celebrate their culture, stoke their heritage and press forward in their struggle.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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For more than three decades, Taylor Books has been a cultural anchor and community gathering spot right in the heart of the state capital.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Candelora praised Democratic leaders for listening to his caucus’s proposals in recent weeks.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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At the moment, Senate Democrats say the ballroom authorization lacks sufficient support in their caucus to get 60 votes.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But even that is uncertain; Bianco won more delegates at the state party convention, though neither candidate cleared the threshold needed to win a formal endorsement.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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The New England cannabis convention going on the same day in Boston has more juice than the GOP confab in Worcester.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclave. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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