Definitions

doctrinal

[dok-truh-nl, dok-trahyn-l] / ˈdɒk trə nl, dɒkˈtraɪn l /

ADJECTIVE

conventional

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rigid

WEAK

bigoted bourgeois button-down commonplace conforming conservative demure dogmatic drippy hackneyed hidebound humdrum illiberal in rut inflexible insular isolationist lame literal moderate moral narrow narrow-minded not extreme not heretical obstinate parochial pedestrian prosaic puritanical routine rube run-of-the-mill sober solemn square stereotyped straight strait-laced strict stuffy uptight

Antonyms

WEAK

abnormal different exotic foreign irregular new original strange uncommon unconventional uncustomary unique unusual

ADJECTIVE

dogmatic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assertive categorical pragmatic reasoned

WEAK

a priori as a matter of course authoritarian authoritative axiomatic by fiat by natural law by nature canonical deducible deductive derivable doctrinaire eternal excathedra formal imperative inevitable on faith oracular orthodox peremptory positive prophetic systematic theoretical unchangeable unerring unqualified

Antonyms

WEAK

ambiguous amenable doubtful doubting dubious equivocal flexible fluctuating indecisive manageable not positive obedient questioning skeptical submissive uncertain vacillating

ADJECTIVE

homiletic

Synonyms

WEAK

admonitory didactic disciplinary disquisitional edifying expository instructional instructive moralizing preaching sermonic sermonizing teaching

ADJECTIVE

orthodox

Synonyms

WEAK

according to the book acknowledged admitted approved authoritative buttoned-down by the numbers canonical conformist conservative conventional correct customary devout die-hard established in line legitimate official old-line pious proper punctilious reactionary received recognized religious right rightful sanctioned sound square standard straight straight arrow traditionalistic true well-established

Antonyms

WEAK

heterodox unconventional unorthodox untraditional

ADJECTIVE

religious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

holy sacred sectarian theological

STRONG

devotional divine pontifical

WEAK

canonical churchly clerical deistic ecclesiastical ministerial orthodox priestly sacerdotal sacrosanct scriptural supernatural theistic

Antonyms

STRONGEST

irreligious irreverent lay secular unholy unsacred

WEAK

agnostic atheistic erring ungodly

ADJECTIVE

theological

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ecclesiastical metaphysical

WEAK

apostolic canonical churchly deistic divine scriptural theistic

Antonyms

WEAK

irreligious

ADJECTIVE

traditional

Synonyms

STRONGEST

classic classical common conventional historic long-established old popular regular time-honored universal

WEAK

acceptable accustomed acknowledged ancestral customary fixed folk habitual immemorial oral prescribed rooted sanctioned taken for granted transmitted unwritten widely used widespread

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abnormal different extraordinary infrequent irregular modern new rare uncommon unusual

WEAK

fresh unestablished unfixed untraditional

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.

Bishop James Massa, the top doctrinal official of the U.S. bishops’ conference, said the pope is upholding just war theory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

By restoring deference to informed business judgment while reinforcing clearer doctrinal boundaries, Delaware has moved to re-establish the balance that long underpinned confidence in incentives, leadership stability, and predictable rules.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

Beneath the doctrinal sparring lies a familiar institutional fear characterized by destabilizing final judgments, opening procedural floodgates, and unraveling the architecture of criminal finality.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2026

Prof Xulu said churches like the IPHC, while having an "eclectic approach to Christianity" that was "half-Christian, half-African", did have doctrinal justifications for their traditions as well as "internal dispute-resolution mechanisms".

From BBC • May 3, 2025

Superstition was a widely available nostrum for people powerless against the miseries of famine, pestilence and deadly doctrinal conflict.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

doctrinal

Example Sentences

Related Words