defrock
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Vatican can forcibly laicize priests, or defrock them, as a punishment for such crimes as clergy sexual abuse.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2022
The French Church in 2018 banned him from public ministry but did not defrock him.
From Reuters • Feb. 18, 2022
The Vatican has been under pressure to defrock the cleric, but it has maintained he deserves a full and fair legal process.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2020
He resigned a few years later, before the church concluded proceedings to defrock him.
From Washington Times • Oct. 4, 2019
Brennan said the reason the Vatican did not defrock Bransfield was that it would lose leverage.
From Washington Post • Jul. 23, 2019
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.