priests

NOUN

man who is minister in roman or orthodox catholic church

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cleric elder father friar lama monk preacher rector

STRONG

curate divine ecclesiastic padre pontiff vicar

WEAK

clergyperson father confessor holy man man of God man of the cloth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The bishops, often nervous about angering the public at a time when church attendance continues its steady decline, have to think carefully about whether to challenge these celebrity priests.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

I come from a family of priests and devoted Catholics.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

More recently, in 2025, the vestments of Catholic priests inspired Dolce & Gabbana’s menswear collection.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

The lure is strong enough that Pope Leo XIV recently warned Catholic priests against using it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

“Everything was in order for the people to know who was in control,” the Spanish priests wrote.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann