confessional

1 of 2

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al kən-ˈfesh-nəl How to pronounce confessional (audio)
-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl
1
: a place where a priest hears confessions
2
: the practice of confessing to a priest

confessional

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or being a confession especially of faith
2
a
: intimately autobiographical
confessional fiction
b
: characterized by unguarded openness or self-revelation
We live in a confessional culture, provoked by social media and the internet and the warmth of the human impulse to share and … commiserate.Megan Garber
confessionalism
kən-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce confessional (audio)
-ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-
noun
confessionalist
kən-ˈfesh-nə-list How to pronounce confessional (audio)
-ˈfe-shə-nə-list
noun
confessionally
kən-ˈfesh-nə-lē How to pronounce confessional (audio)
-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl-
adverb

Examples of confessional in a Sentence

Adjective confessional interviews of famous actors
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Diaz’s performance is laden with social-media-influencer artifice (not helped by his character’s tendency toward on-camera confessionals that don’t feel too different from Instagram Live posts). Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 In a teaser for future episodes, Jessica and Jimmy are seen meeting at a pool party and Jimmy admits he is attracted to her in a confessional. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 Russell adamantly wanted a proposal and said as much in solo confessionals and direct conversations with Jones. Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2023 In his own confessional, Zach refuses to share his thoughts about the happy couple's plans to get married. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2024 Some of the stories are about scary things, some of them are confessionals, some are truly beautiful. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024 The doc will continue to switch between modes of formal investigation and warm, first-hand confessional, as objective archival footage is alternated with candid, conversational iPhone videos and audio recordings. Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2024 Jogging around the stage in circles, the nimble-witted Edelman has a gift for laser-sharp descriptions of cultural and generational rifts in this hysterical 90-minute confessional. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 The lyrics read as confessionals, dripping with vulnerability that’s accentuated by the string arrangements in the background. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Jan. 2024
Adjective
In a confessional interview later, Janelle expressed concern over her children's strained relationship with their father. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 The class will highlight the intersection of English literature and gender studies, studying womanhood, witch hunts, diary and confessional writings, and what is deemed socially acceptable for women’s fame and women’s success. Bryan West, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024 There's even a confessional room, for guests to recap their fun (and gossip about their other housemates, 'natch). Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 In the early twenty-first century, the memoir has turned into a confessional, in a nearly religious sense. Hillary Kelly, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024 The next day, I was supposed to attend the taping of one of Sandoval’s confessional interviews for the show. Irina Aleksander, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 With the Italian lunch hour whirling around us, we are cradled in a confessional safe haven. Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 6 Feb. 2024 Crunchy guitars, galloping rhythm and a ferocious production meld on this confessional grit-country track written by Sam Martinez, Graham Barham, Zack Dyer and Jon Robert Hall. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 5 Feb. 2024 Bellomo isn’t, however, a sufficiently penetrating observer or interviewer to coax out the candid human doubts or fears that his two principal subjects otherwise leave unspoken, and their joint narration feels more stoically inspirational than confessional. Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confessional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from French confessional (short for chaire confessionale, siège confessional, literally, "confessional seat"), noun derivative of confessional, adjective, "constituting or used for a confession," borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis, from Latin confessiōn-, confessiō confession + -ālis -al entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis "constituting or used for a confession" — more at confessional entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confessional was in 1684

Dictionary Entries Near confessional

Cite this Entry

“Confessional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confessional. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

confessional

noun
con·​fes·​sion·​al
kən-ˈfesh-(ə-)nəl
1
: the enclosed place in which a priest sits and hears confessions
2
: the practice of confessing to a priest

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