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 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 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 Here's a comparison of two encyclicals — 135 years apart — addressing technological upheaval. — Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 25 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encyclicals
  1. letters
  2. epistles
  3. messages
  4. pronouncements
  5. mails
  6. memos
  7. posts
  8. declarations
Noun
  • Valentine and Suarez did not respond to letters mailed to addresses that appeared to be associated with them.
    — David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The invasion of Canada As 1775 wore on, force came to join careful letters.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 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
  • The pair exchanged messages the day of the shooting, arranging to meet.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
  • In subsequent messages included in charging documents, Robinson referenced engraving bullets and leaving his rifle wrapped in a towel.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of messages
Noun
  • Even temporary sales slumps breed alarmist pronouncements; book parties in disfavored genres begin to feel like wakes, sending off one more spirit to the inevitable afterworld of the remainder shelf.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • Beulah’s not delivering world-weary pronouncements, the way Beth does.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of pronouncements
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Graves' body was partially wrapped in black garbage bags secured with duct tape, then rolled up in a rug alongside blankets, bags, pieces of mails, various items of clothing and trash.
    — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Tyler has been embedded in the treasurer’s office, which calculates and mails out property tax bills, for years.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of mails
Noun
  • That conversation produced the kind of alignment that doesn’t come from memos or mission statements.
    — John Speranza, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Down by her green toes, Melanie Griffith’s Staten Island secretary Tess McGill ferries to Manhattan to type memos for important men.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of memos
Noun
  • Several northbound lanes of I-5 were closed north of Templin Highway as fire vehicles staged on the highway and multiple firefighting helicopters performed water drops from above, according to social media posts from the Angeles National Forest.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Update to the latest version to see all Vogue content, as well as new features like our Runway Genius quiz, Group Chats, and posts from Vogue contributors.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 July 2026
Definition of posts
Noun
  • Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 4 July 2026
  • The city, county and state all issued local emergency declarations in the days following the fire.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 4 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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