as in to depose
to remove from a position of prominence or power (as a throne)
the movie's director was defrocked for going way over budget
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Recent Examples of defrock
One exception is former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked in 2019 after abuse allegations surfaced.
—
Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023
Francis originally set out the norms as a response to the decades of cover-up exposed by a Pennsylvania grand jury report and the scandal over then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was eventually defrocked for abusing adults as well as minors.
—Nicole Winfield, al, 25 Mar. 2023
None of the priests were defrocked.
—Monica Scislowska, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2023
Under Ratzinger’s watch as cardinal and pope, the Vatican authorized fast-track administrative procedures to defrock egregious abusers.
—Nicole Winfield, ajc, 1 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for defrock
Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023
Francis originally set out the norms as a response to the decades of cover-up exposed by a Pennsylvania grand jury report and the scandal over then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was eventually defrocked for abusing adults as well as minors.
—Nicole Winfield, al, 25 Mar. 2023
None of the priests were defrocked.
—Monica Scislowska, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2023
Under Ratzinger’s watch as cardinal and pope, the Vatican authorized fast-track administrative procedures to defrock egregious abusers.
—Nicole Winfield, ajc, 1 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for defrock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defrock
Verb
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At the center of the defense team’s argument was Khalil Quinan, the former lead prosecutor on the case, who withdrew after a judge ruled he could be deposed and questioned under oath about his access to the material.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
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Sauer made his request following a lower court's decision to allow a government watchdog to depose DOGE staffers to gain greater understanding of the department's workings, arguing it should be subjected to the same rules which apply to any federal agency.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Paulo Fonseca was sacked in December, while the end of the season saw the club decide to end Sergio Conceicao’s tenure after an eighth-place finish.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Former Porto head coach Conceicao was sacked after just five months in charge on Thursday following a disappointing eighth place finish in Serie A that saw the club miss out on European qualification for 2025-26.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defrock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defrock. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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