as in dogmatical
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions
a theater critic known for his pontifical pronouncements on what is or is not worth seeing
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Recent Examples of pontifical
The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical.
—
Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2020
That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023
Because of its original purpose, however, the building also has its peculiarities: the pontifical horses lived in grand style on two levels of soaring stalls, connected by a monumental, gently sloping ramp of travertine bricks.
—Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
The prevailing view of Wordsworth—pontifical, orthodox, austere—was entrenched by the Victorians, who praised him for the very qualities the Younger Romantics had mocked.
—Matthew Bevis, Harper's Magazine, 23 June 2020
Lifting the rule of pontifical secrecy does not clarify church official’s obligations to comply with such requests.
—Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2020
The Vatican had previously argued that the imposition of pontifical secrecy was necessary to protect both victim and accused.
—BostonGlobe.com, 18 Dec. 2019
Critics said the pontifical secret was used to keep the scandal hidden, prevent police from acquiring internal documentation and silence victims.
—Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Dec. 2019
Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2020
That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023
Because of its original purpose, however, the building also has its peculiarities: the pontifical horses lived in grand style on two levels of soaring stalls, connected by a monumental, gently sloping ramp of travertine bricks.
—Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
The prevailing view of Wordsworth—pontifical, orthodox, austere—was entrenched by the Victorians, who praised him for the very qualities the Younger Romantics had mocked.
—Matthew Bevis, Harper's Magazine, 23 June 2020
Lifting the rule of pontifical secrecy does not clarify church official’s obligations to comply with such requests.
—Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2020
The Vatican had previously argued that the imposition of pontifical secrecy was necessary to protect both victim and accused.
—BostonGlobe.com, 18 Dec. 2019
Critics said the pontifical secret was used to keep the scandal hidden, prevent police from acquiring internal documentation and silence victims.
—Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Dec. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontifical
Adjective
-
Another crucial component is dogmatic blind devotion to a single over-arching goal by AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The author who writes after great catastrophe frequently assumes the angel’s position: Many historical novels float above history, bearing witness but drawing simple lessons, or casting dogmatic judgment, from the safe vantage of the present.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Described by family as larger-than-life in personality and stature, the 6-foot-5-inch Wesley is remembered as a jovial, fiercely stubborn man with a quick wit and passion for advocacy.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Happy Birthday for Saturday, March 29, 2025: You are opinionated and stubborn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Duffy is hilariously literate, an opinionated fanboy ready to defend Nirvana against naysayers.—
Claude Peck,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Water signs may relate closely to wise and opinionated Owl while Earth signs may relate to the reserved and — sometimes gloomy — Eeyore.—
Athena Sobhan,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Nobody’s shooting on this season’s Longhorns would be mistaken for Stephen Curry’s, but Schaefer is adamant that this group stands out among his 20-year head-coaching career.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Still, Jenkins was adamant about not moving to the city.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Such preachy, doctrinaire, often repellant art may be made to draw attention to this or that social issue, but it is surely not produced to entertain.—
Peter Tonguette,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
-
In 2024, that worked, but the coalition that powered Trump’s victory drew heavily from those less engaged in politics and who ranged, ideologically, from doctrinaire social conservatives, such as Vance, to contrarian ex-liberals, such as Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
The New Yorker,
21 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pontifical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontifical. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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