confessional
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small, private room or booth in a church where a person tells their sins to a priest.
n.a small, enclosed stall or room in a church where a priest hears the confessions of penitents.
Simple“The man knelt inside the wooden confessional and waited for the priest to speak.”
In context“The cathedral's ornate confessionals were carved from dark oak, providing a somber and private space for the Sacrament of Penance.”
UsageUsually refers to the physical structure within a Catholic or Anglican church.
Synonymsconfession box - 02 C1 Advanced
n.a short interview in a reality TV show where a person talks directly to the camera about their feelings.
n.a filmed segment in reality television where a participant speaks directly to the camera to provide commentary or reveal private thoughts.
Simple“In her confessional, the contestant admitted she didn't actually like her teammates.”
In context“Producers often use the confessional to highlight contradictions between a participant's public actions and their private motivations.”
Synonymstalking headinterview segment - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.telling private information or secrets about yourself in a very honest way.
adj.relating to or characteristic of a confession, especially in literature or art that reveals private or painful personal details.
Simple“The singer's new album is very confessional, with lyrics about her difficult childhood.”
In context“The poet is often credited with pioneering a confessional style that stripped away metaphors to address trauma with startling directness.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
adj.relating to a specific set of religious beliefs or a formal statement of faith.
adj.of or relating to a formal statement of religious doctrinal belief or a group defined by such a belief.
Simple“The country has several confessional schools that focus on specific religious teachings.”
In context“The peace treaty established a confessional system of government, distributing political power among the nation's primary religious sects.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“Next, the band jumped aboard that summer’s Warped tour and discovered that, in their absence, Pinkerton had found an audience that treasured its confessional intensity.”
“Rodrigo’s songs, mostly co-written with longtime collaborator Dan Nigro, repeatedly make the same sharp turns, moving from confessional balladry to pop-punk abrasion, saccharine sweetness to venom, the tear-stained bedroom to the slammed door.”
From confession + -al.
From French confessionnal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.