How to Use priestly in a Sentence

priestly

adjective
  • He is a kind, priestly man.
  • Yezidis have three castes: the laypeople known as Murids, and the priestly Sheikhs and Pirs.
    — Cathy Otten, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2017
  • Biden is a practicing Catholic, and his election in 2020 spurred the priestly debate.
    — Elaine Ayala, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Dec. 2021
  • The roughly half-dozen relics include a lock of St. Pio’s hair, a glove with blood from his stigmata wounds and his priestly mantle.
    — Stephen Nakrosis, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2017
  • The retreat master never warned us about priestly abuse.
    — Lance Morrow, WSJ, 24 Oct. 2018
  • After my grandfather died, there was the pressing question of who would take over the priestly duties at the temple.
    — Haruki Murakami, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2019
  • Celibacy was made law only during the Middle Ages, in part as a way to keep priestly wealth inside the church, rather than being divvied up among heirs.
    — Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2019
  • Tetzaveh follows with the command of the priestly garments.
    — Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 22 Feb. 2022
  • His priestly status proved an asset for the mayors who recruited him to civic service.
    — Sam Roberts, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2020
  • His priestly status proved an asset for the mayors who recruited him to civic service.
    — Sam Roberts, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2020
  • His priestly status proved an asset for the mayors who recruited him to civic service.
    — Sam Roberts, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2020
  • While Europe continues to be a dry well for priestly vocations, Africa is a wellspring.
    — Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2019
  • And then Frank Daly will be ready for the investiture, bestowing upon this man from the Congo his proper priestly vestments.
    — Thomas Farragher, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2018
  • In Allentown, the grand jury said Schlert was involved in the diocese’s 2002 effort to discredit a victim of priestly abuse.
    — Michael Rubinkam, The Seattle Times, 4 Sep. 2018
  • As a member of all the priestly colleges, the emperor was effectively the head of Roman religion as well as its chief priest.
    — Mary Beard, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
  • As a reward for his service, Aaron was anointed as Israel’s first high priest, while his tribe of the Levi was chosen for priestly service (Exodus 28–29).
    — National Geographic, 3 May 2019
  • Father Jenkins, 63, would seem like an excellent person to ask, and not just because of his priestly collar.
    — Ron Lieber, New York Times, 23 June 2017
  • And in the highest of priestly callings, Berardelli chose to put others' lives before his own by giving up his ventilator to save the life of a younger person.
    — Jeff Berardelli, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2020
  • On this day the priestly promises of chastity, obedience and poverty are renewed before a Bishop.
    — Nadia Cantú, The Arizona Republic, 31 Mar. 2023
  • But behavior in the priestly trenches actually is much improved, and that is surely cause for hope.
    — Vincent Carroll, The Denver Post, 13 Dec. 2019
  • In addition to his priestly robes, Pohlmeier wore a violet zucchetto, or skull cap, and a golden pectoral cross.
    — Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2022
  • But on the topic of priestly shortages, Francis simply asked bishops to pray for more vocations and urged missionaries to head to the Amazon.
    — Chico Harlan, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2020
  • The goal of the priestly garments is not honor but rather to serve as a reminder that the priest has a greater responsibility to soulfully impact the community.
    — Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2023
  • His priestly authority was revoked by Nicaragua’s bishops that same year.
    — Elias E. Lopez, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2020
  • His priestly authority was revoked by Nicaragua’s bishops that same year.
    — Elias E. Lopez, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2020
  • His priestly authority was revoked by Nicaragua’s bishops that same year.
    — Elias E. Lopez, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2020
  • His priestly authority was revoked by Nicaragua’s bishops that same year.
    — Elias E. Lopez, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2020
  • Even after five decades, his entrance in priestly vestments remains startling.
    — J. Hoberman, New York Times, 11 May 2017
  • Finally, Moses washes Aaron and his sons and actually dresses them in their priestly garments (29:4–9).
    — Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2024
  • The southern tradition is rooted partly in a century-old revolt against the privileges granted to Brahmans, the priestly caste that sits at the top of Hinduism’s ancient social hierarchy.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'priestly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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