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
The outcome may influence how other states approach mandated reporting requirements for clergy, especially as constitutional and civil rights groups enter the debate.
—
James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Earlier this month, the DOJ launched an investigation into a Washington state law that requires clergy members to report information about child abuse or neglect obtained during confessions, without exemptions for Catholic priests' confessional privilege.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The Swiss Army lined the outside of the Vatican among clergy and people waving patriotic indicators from around the globe in celebration of the leader of the Catholic Church emerging from the balcony and beginning his papacy.
—Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025
Led by the clergy, the four royals then took part in a procession down the aisle of Westminster Abbey.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clergy
James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Earlier this month, the DOJ launched an investigation into a Washington state law that requires clergy members to report information about child abuse or neglect obtained during confessions, without exemptions for Catholic priests' confessional privilege.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The Swiss Army lined the outside of the Vatican among clergy and people waving patriotic indicators from around the globe in celebration of the leader of the Catholic Church emerging from the balcony and beginning his papacy.
—Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025
Led by the clergy, the four royals then took part in a procession down the aisle of Westminster Abbey.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergy
Noun
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Mustain served at Preston Trail from 2019 to 2023, according to a statement on the church’s website.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 June 2025
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The church emerged as a safe haven because Pastor Brutus, who had ministered for 50 years and given refuge to some of the more than 1 million Haitians who have been displaced by the violence, had attained hero status.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Amicable relations had long existed between the Catholic Church in Rome and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but the Roman episcopate embraced Mussolini’s regime and its aggressive foreign policy in the mid-1930s.—
Ian Campbell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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