PRELATE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

prelate

noun

Definition of prelate

as in archbishop

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 prelate In roughly 33 hours over the course of two days, the diverse group of international prelates elected Prevost on the fourth ballot. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Many other national bishops’ conferences and individual prelates have spoken out. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 However, the bishops took the extra step of releasing a video of various prelates reading the message into the camera, a component that observers interpreted as an unusually direct and personal rebuke. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 20 Dec. 2025 The Reverend Leah Daughtry is national presiding prelate of The House of the Lord Churches, co-convenor of Power Rising, author, and political strategist, having served as chief of staff of the DNC, CEO of the 2008 and 2016 Democratic Conventions, and an at-large member of the DNC. — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prelate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelate

Noun

Bishop’s Lodge dates to the 1860s when Santa Fe’s first archbishop, Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, built a chapel and private residence here.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The pilgrims were going to a prayer site in Nakuru County, west of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, said Martin Kivuva, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of archbishop

Noun

On April 18, 1049, the pope exempted a nunnery in Alsace – now in Sainte-Croix-en-Plaine, France – from the legal authority and supervision of the local bishop.

— Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
Warren Jeffs then appointed Nephi Jeffs, another brother, as bishop.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of bishop

Noun

In 2014, Pope Francis abolished the future use of the monsignor title — which denotes a specific honor — for most priests.

— Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
This time around, the monsignor of a small-town church is found dead under mysterious circumstances, and Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is summoned to investigate.

— Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026

Definition of monsignor

Noun

An American had never been pope, and the prevailing conventional wisdom was that one never would be elected.

— Scott Detrow, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
Throw in some divine intervention with the first Chicago pope confessing his allegiance to the South Siders, and the Cinderella story has captured the nation’s imagination.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of pope

Noun

This would be the case also for an apostate, heretic, schismatic bishop, presbyter, or deacon.

— Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
Before coming to Birmingham, Webster had served 18 years as executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Sierra Blanca in southern New Mexico.

— Greg Garrison, AL.com, 19 July 2017

Definition of presbyter

Noun

The men were also ordered to return more than 300 million baht (about $9 million) to the hospice at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in the central province of Lopburi, where Alongkot had served as abbot.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
The abbot eventually suspended the monk from his clerical duties a few months ago and the pair’s relationship worsened, per the outlet.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of abbot

Noun

The first is the strikingly Gothic diocesan throne, which sits in the cathedral choir and dates from the Victorian era.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026
The diocesan website includes a statement from Dallas Bishop Edward Burns connecting the need for social distancing with the story of the Good Samaritan.

— David Tarrant, Dallas News, 6 Apr. 2020

Definition of diocesan

Noun

He was nominated for the award by his supervisor at Moraine Valley, Terra Jacobson, dean of Learning Resources, who also teaches a graduate class at Dominican, along with colleagues Marie Martino and Jayne Killackey.

— Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Guzman, a former law school dean who became provost in 2023, faced similar tests over protests and free speech.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dean

Browse Nearby Words

pre-Ks

prelate

prelates

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prelate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of prelate

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on prelate

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes