prayers

Definition of prayersnext
plural of prayer
1
as in petitions
an address to God or a deity he always directed a bedside prayer to God before going to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2

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 prayers Thank you for all the well-wishes and prayers. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 Local officials have called for prayers for the souls of the victims, and the strength of the survivors. Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026 Thank you for the prayers and support over the last year. Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026 Keeping his family in my thoughts and prayers. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026 Hundreds of mourners, through song, prayers, and remembrance, wept on Friday during a celebration of life at Church by the Glades for Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer, celebrating her short but impactful life. Joan Murray, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 Still, Vance questioned Leo anew, pushing back specifically at the pope’s Palm Sunday assertion that God does not hear the prayers of those who make war. ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 Planting seasons, river baptisms, torture, prayers, African dialects, poverty, massacres, lynchings. Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026 The ceremony includes chanting, drumming, dancing, and prayers intended to honor the deceased and guide their spirit to the afterlife. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prayers
Noun
  • On Tuesday in Oak Park, voters placed their petitions in ballot boxes, then people weighed in on both sides of the issue, and strong emotions were expressed by those for and against placing the advisory measure on the ballot in a session where each comment was limited to two minutes.
    Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Residents launched a fierce opposition campaign, packing city council meetings and mounting petitions.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But appeals to return it have grown with the rise of social media, most notably after Queen Elizabeth II died almost four years ago.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Years of appeals followed and he was resentenced to death in 1988, 1993 and 1996.
    Jeffrey Collins, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Kibandi discussed with us about the power of art in creating change and how photography can be a vehicle for culture expanding orisons for girls and women.
    Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court, Jones entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel, and filch millions of dollars from unwitting poker players.
    Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.
    Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The city has denied public records requests for the application, citing a state exemption related to hotel development plans.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In a report set to be presented Tuesday to the Police Commission, LAPD officials said drones were deployed more than 3,000 times last year, mostly in response to emergency calls or officer requests for assistance.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prayers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prayers. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on prayers

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster