encyclicals

noun

plural of encyclical
as in letters
an official writing from the Pope to the Roman Catholic bishops

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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 encyclicals Ed Simon on the history of papal encyclicals. — Literary Hub, 29 May 2026 Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican. — Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026 Rather, the two encyclicals establish a foundation of work as a human right and a societal good that applies even more in the age of AI. — Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Here's a comparison of two encyclicals — 135 years apart — addressing technological upheaval. — Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 25 May 2026 Nearly 300 papal encyclicals have been produced since the first was authored in 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 May 2026 This reframing is not at odds with traditional Catholic theological affirmations, as anyone who reads John Paul II’s encyclicals can see. — R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclicals
  1. letters
  2. epistles
  3. messages
  4. pronouncements
  5. mails
  6. memos
  7. posts
  8. declarations
Noun
  • Conrad apparently didn’t know about the fevered 1952 letters to Breit.
    — Stephen Bates, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The exhibition draws largely from the museum’s collection of photographs, film, period newspapers, letters and personal accounts to reconstruct the storm and what happened to Miami afterward.
    — Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of letters
Noun
  • The main theme of the letters over time emphasizes long-term value creation, but the epistles have drawn criticism from the political left and right.
    — byDebbie Carlson, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
  • While hunkered down in the trenches of World War I, a Greek scholar translated some of Paul’s epistles.
    — Robin Hoagland, Christian Science Monitor, 14 May 2025
Definition of epistles
Noun
  • Criminals can use that information to create convincing phishing messages or impersonation scams.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Even when users aren’t sending messages, Duet’s background checks eat into their quota.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of messages
Noun
  • Lured in by such shiny baubles, the responsible critic should avoid making premature, weepingly sincere pronouncements.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Musk is savvy at securing investment, whether his shiny pronouncements about the future prove real or not.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pronouncements
Noun
  • The book-gifting program, part of the nonprofit Dollywood Foundation, mails free, high-quality books to children across the country and around the world once a month from birth to age 5.
    — Kristy High, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Each month, the book gifting program mails free books to children from birth to age 5, regardless of their family’s income.
    — Devarrick Turner, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mails
Noun
  • The Secure Notes section allows paid account holders to store memos and links, as well as up to 3GB of JPEG, PDF, MP4, or DOC files in their vault.
    — Kim Key, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
  • That includes memos, corporate communications, and Maven blogs.
    — Corynn Winston, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of memos
Noun
  • The State Department ordered a further reduction in staff at multiple diplomatic posts in the region, including in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan, according to a State Department official.
    — Abigail Williams, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By default, users under 18 will no longer be able to see likes and other reactions in response to their posts or those of others.
    — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of posts
Noun
  • The boldest declarations of solidarity, Lee knows, often precede the quietest and cruellest of betrayals.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The invasive species, first discovered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in October 2024, has prompted emergency declarations in Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin and Kern counties.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of declarations

Browse Nearby Words

encyclical
encyclicals
encyclopedia
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Cite this Entry

“Encyclicals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encyclicals. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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