variants
or ancress
as in prioress
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Recent Examples of anchoress
In the medieval church, women’s roles were limited – usually some form of enclosure and celibacy, such as becoming an anchoress walled up alone for life, or a nun in a classic convent.
—
Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
Louise, a former anchoress, is her humble, tyrannical maid.
—Hervé Guibert, Harper's Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024
Some of the spotlighted individuals, like St. Catherine of Siena and English anchoress Julian of Norwich, were celebrated in their day as visionaries, while others, including Kempe and Joan of Arc, were persecuted as heretics.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
Louise, a former anchoress, is her humble, tyrannical maid.
—Hervé Guibert, Harper's Magazine, 2 Nov. 2024
Some of the spotlighted individuals, like St. Catherine of Siena and English anchoress Julian of Norwich, were celebrated in their day as visionaries, while others, including Kempe and Joan of Arc, were persecuted as heretics.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anchoress
Noun
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In response, the diocese said in a statement that the Holy See has acted toward healing the Arlington Carmel and the nuns in the community and not simply the former prioress and her former councilors.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2024
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Matrix by Lauren Groff Currents of violence and devotion coalesce around Marie de France, a 17-year-old sent to be the new prioress of a 12th-century English abbey.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
29 Mar. 2024
Noun
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Hildegard von Bingen, a Benedictine abbess and eventual saint, lived in the Middle Ages, when women’s lives were severely restricted.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2025
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The 12th-century abbess, composer, philosopher, and visionary becomes a thrilling subject when backed by modular synths, Ukrainian folk singing, and high medieval music.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
30 May 2025
Noun
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The nun incorporates stories in her presentation, using examples of kids that she’s worked with.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
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In 1939, it was renamed Siena Heights College in honor of St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century Dominican nun.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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The ceremony, where Tucker and Hudgens exchanged personalized vows, was officiated by former monk Jay Shetty.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
4 July 2025
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The Trappist monk Thomas Merton describes a similar experience on the streets of Louisville, Kentucky, on a rare occasion when leaving his cloistered monastery.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Explore medieval monastic ruins on Innisfallen Island, and immerse yourself in ancient silence.—
Andrea Bussell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 July 2025
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While the Thai Buddhism depicted in The White Lotus is not completely realistic, there are several authentic ways to engage deeply with Buddhism, ranging from offering donations to short meditation retreats to ordination as a monastic.—
Brooke Schedneck,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Prevost, 69, is the first Augustinian friar to become pope, the Vatican News reported.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
9 May 2025
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Then came the Reformation, a revolution brought on by a onetime friar named Martin Luther.—
Spencer Strub,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This makes these spots good for young anglers and novices as well as those with mobility challenges.—
Kaitlyn Keegan,
Hartford Courant,
10 July 2025
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Two pilots in uniform greeted us and put all of us novice fliers at ease, giving us a rundown about the safety measures between cracking jokes.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
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But the fate of the votary is to require and receive a constant renewal of faith.—
Jeff Weiss,
Spin,
21 Aug. 2023
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Many remember the Cultural Revolution as a time of Red Guard excess—of the people terrorizing the votaries of the party.—
Mary Gallagher,
Foreign Affairs,
20 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Anchoress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anchoress. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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