What is another word for pontifical?

Pronunciation: [pəntˈɪfɪkə͡l] (IPA)

Pontifical is an adjective commonly used to describe a person or their behavior as pompous, self-important, or excessively authoritative. However, there are several synonyms for this word that can be used to convey similar meanings, including pretentious, bombastic, haughty, overbearing, and arrogant. Other synonyms for pontifical may include grandiose, imperious, officious, and supercilious. Each of these words carries a similar connotation and can be used to describe an individual who exhibits an excessive sense of superiority or a tendency to impose their views on others. Whether describing someone's behavior or attitude, using one of these synonyms can help to convey a clear and concise message.

Synonyms for Pontifical:

What are the paraphrases for Pontifical?

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  • Equivalence

    • Proper noun, singular
      papal, pontificia.
  • Other Related

    • Proper noun, singular
      pope.

What are the hypernyms for Pontifical?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the hyponyms for Pontifical?

Hyponyms are more specific words categorized under a broader term, known as a hypernym.
  • hyponyms for pontifical (as nouns)

What are the opposite words for pontifical?

The word "pontifical" is often used to describe someone who is self-important, pompous, or excessively authoritative. The antonyms for "pontifical" include humble, modest, unpretentious, easygoing, flexible, and approachable. These antonyms suggest a person who is not overly concerned with their own importance, is willing to listen to others, and is open to new ideas and perspectives. These qualities are often valued in leadership roles, as they facilitate collaboration and cooperation, rather than rigid hierarchy and command. In general, antonyms for "pontifical" suggest a more compassionate and empathetic approach to interpersonal relationships and decision-making.

What are the antonyms for Pontifical?

Usage examples for Pontifical

The Missal is in one volume, the Breviary in four, the pontifical, the Ritual, and the Ceremonial in one each, making eight in all.
"A Short History of the Book of Common Prayer"
William Reed Huntington
The name of the book of such offices as could be used by a bishop only was The pontifical.
"A Short History of the Book of Common Prayer"
William Reed Huntington
It did not agree with the parliamentarians: it had a standing feud with the Labour Party: it gave a dignified and pontifical blessing to the Volunteers without committing itself to their whole programme.
"The Evolution of Sinn Fein"
Robert Mitchell Henry

Famous quotes with Pontifical

  • In each of the cathedral churches there was a bishop, or an archbishop of fools, elected; and in the churches immediately dependent upon the papal see a pope of fools. These mock pontiffs had usually a proper suit of ecclesiastics who attended upon them, and assisted at the divine service, most of them attired in ridiculous dresses resembling pantomimical players and buffoons; they were accompanied by large crowds of the laity, some being disguised with masks of a monstrous fashion, and others having their faces smutted; in one instance to frighten the beholders, and in the other to excite their laughter: and some, again, assuming the habits of females, practised all the wanton airs of the loosest and most abandoned of the sex. During the divine service this motley crowd were not contended with singing of indecent songs in the choir, but some of them ate, and drank, and played at dice upon the altar, by the side of the priest who celebrated the mass. After the service they put filth into the censers, and ran about the church, leaping, dancing, laughing, singing, breaking obscene jests, and exposing themselves in the most unseemly attitudes with shameless impudence. Another part of these ridiculous ceremonies was, to shave the precentor of fools upon a stage erected before the church, in the presence of the populace; and during the operation, he amused them with lewd and vulgar discourses, accompanied by actions equally reprehensible. The bishop, or the pope of fools, performed the divine service habited in the pontifical garments, and gave his benediction to the people before they quitted the church. He was afterwards seated in an open carriage, and drawn about to the different parts of the town, attended by a large train of ecclesiastics and laymen promiscuously mingled together; and many of the most profligate of the latter assumed clerical habits in order to give their impious fooleries the greater effect; they had also with them carts filled with ordure, which they threw occasionally upon the populace assembled to see the procession. These spectacles were always exhibited at Christmas-time, or near to it, but not confined to one particular day.
    Joseph Strutt
  • He knew nothing accurately about any subject in the world, but he could clothe his ignorance in pontifical garments and give his confusion the accents of authority. He had a remarkable flair for discerning and elaborating the tiny quantum of popular knowledge on any matter.
    John Buchan
  • I have been accused of a habit of changing my opinions … I am not myself in any degree ashamed of having changed my opinions. What physicist who was already active in 1900 would dream of boasting that his opinions had not changed during the last half century? In science men change their opinions when new knowledge becomes available; but philosophy in the minds of many is assimilated rather to theology than to science. … The kind of philosophy that I value and have endeavoured to pursue is scientific, in the sense that there is some definite knowledge to be obtained and that new discoveries can make the admission of former error inevitable to any candid mind. For what I have said, whether early or late, I do not claim the kind of truth which theologians claim for their creeds. I claim only, at best, that the opinion expressed was a sensible one to hold at the time when it was expressed. I should be much surprised if subsequent research did not show that it needed to be modified. I hope, therefore, that whoever uses this dictionary will not suppose the remarks which it quotes to be intended as pontifical pronouncements, but only as the best I could do at the time towards the promotion of clear and accurate thinking. Clarity, above all, has been my aim.
    Bertrand Russell

Related words: pontifical michigan, pontifical college, pontifical institute of philosophy, pontifical university, pontifical university of bologna, pontifical law institute

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