as in elder
the senior member of a group
the dean of the Aspen ski instructors oversaw the training of the rescue team
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dean
Colleges have lived large on student loans, paying the salaries of bloated administrative staff and big-bucks deans and coaches.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
The dean of the diplomatic corps, François commended the council for establishing specialized judicial units to investigate financial crimes and mass atrocities.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Nickerson was a former aerospace engineer for Lockheed Martin and was, at 82, still an active dean in his church.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The genteel dean of the Maryland delegation, who helped send billions of federal dollars to his state as an appropriator, was often a key negotiating partner for Republican leaders who maintained better relations with him than the hard-charging Pelosi.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dean
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
The dean of the diplomatic corps, François commended the council for establishing specialized judicial units to investigate financial crimes and mass atrocities.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Nickerson was a former aerospace engineer for Lockheed Martin and was, at 82, still an active dean in his church.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The genteel dean of the Maryland delegation, who helped send billions of federal dollars to his state as an appropriator, was often a key negotiating partner for Republican leaders who maintained better relations with him than the hard-charging Pelosi.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dean
Noun
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In a world where plenty of rap elders are content to roll out unchallenging albums to steadfast fanbases, still knows how to hold your head underwater.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
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Joe Klaas, 46, is one of a fourth generation of descendants of the Baller family elders who founded the place.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Free Home Elementary School in Cherokee County said the two-decade veteran educator and mother of one was placed on administrative leave.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Duties include making sure resident veterans receive the highest standard of medical care, following state laws and meeting specific needs of residents.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Other more outlandish suggestions have included Nicola Mendelsohn, the head of Meta’s global business group and a doyen of British business, and Tristram Hunt, a former broadcast journalist and Labour Party politician who now runs the Victoria & Albert Museum.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
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Senator Chuck Schumer, doyen of the party’s establishment wing and one of the country’s most-prominent Jewish politicians, never publicly backed Mamdani.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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And while Nixon did not want an official state funeral, he was honored as a beloved elder statesman, complete with a daylong period of national mourning.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Broncos elder statesman Garett Bolles had never made a Pro Bowl in his eight previous seasons in Denver, and so Natalie Bolles took matters into her own hands on Dec. 7, when her husband still hadn’t received his Pro Bowl graphic.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Such plans, which provide benefits for more than half of the nation’s Medicare beneficiaries, have been hit hard by rising costs in the last two years in part because seniors have a pent up demand for healthcare following the COVID-19 pandemic when many patients delayed treatment.—
Bruce Japsen,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The senior’s next-level play has attracted Division I college programs from across the country.—
Clark Fahrenthold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dean. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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