DIACONAL Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

diaconal

adjective

Definition of diaconal

as in apostolic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diaconal

Adjective

Beyond his role within the church, the Pope is also a key international figure, frequently speaking out on high-profile topics such as artificial intelligence and immigration, and making apostolic journeys abroad.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.

— Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026

Definition of apostolic

Adjective

After returning to the United States, Novakovic attended an Episcopal boarding school in San Antonio, Texas.

— byRachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 May 2026
On New Year’s Eve in 1996, Christou followed Deadbeat with a club at a former Episcopal church that was built in 1865.

— Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

Definition of episcopal

Adjective

The provincial headquarters are located in Nairobi, and the church conducts much of its work through diocesan offices, educational institutions, health care ministries, and development programs.

— Stephanie TriplettAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Overall, diocesan officials said 1,059 people are expected to enter the Catholic Church in the Chicago diocese this year, up from 696 in 2025, a 52% increase.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026

Definition of diocesan

Adjective

Edward Berger, whose papal selection movie Conclave was set within the walls of Vatican City, opened the conference and market with a fascinating look into his filmmaking process and views on how the movie business has evolved.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
What began as an academic dispute became a public controversy, and questions about indulgences soon expanded into larger debates about salvation, Scripture, and papal authority.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of papal

Adjective

In another decree published Monday, Leo canceled Francis’ plans to move some of the Vatican’s secret archives and library holdings out of the city state and onto the grounds of a pontifical university across town.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026

Definition of pontifical

Adjective

McQueen juxtaposed religious imagery with the brutality of war, incorporating Don McCullin's photographs of the Vietnam War into garments alongside ecclesiastical tailoring, bumster trousers, and thorn-like headpieces.

— Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Any matters requiring legal enforcement are referred directly to the Texas judicial system, said the tribunal, which likened its work to the services provided by Jewish Beth Din courts and Catholic ecclesiastical tribunals.

— David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of ecclesiastical

Adjective

Their forebears at the Academy snubbed canonical documentaries like The Thin Blue Line, Roger & Me, and Hoop Dreams.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
The Vatican typically allows criminal investigations to play out before initiating canonical trials so as not to interfere, and that is especially so now in Australia, after the church's wretched legacy there of abuse and cover-up.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of canonical

Adjective

It's associated with the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul, who traveled through the region and helped spread Christianity across the Roman world.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Their presence is still felt – the United States remains the world’s largest missionary-sending country by far, according to the World Christian Database.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of missionary

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.

Browse Nearby Words

diabolisms

diaconal

diaconate

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Diaconal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diaconal. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of diaconal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes