church

noun

ˈchərch How to pronounce church (audio)
Definition of churchnext
1
as in temple
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship a city that is noted for its many historic churches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in congregation
a body of persons gathered for religious worship spoke to the whole church at once

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in clergy
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church a time when few young men seem to want to join the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of church Four days later, on July 11, Jones’ body was found in the passenger seat of her vehicle in a church parking lot in Fullerton. — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 17 July 2026 The Oregon-Idaho conference includes over 100 churches, the majority of which are in Oregon. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026 The church Van Gogh describes transformed into his masterpiece, The Church at Auvers (1890). — Nick Mafi, Architectural Digest, 17 July 2026 Noe followed the sound of voices, moved the skiff toward a flickering in the church tower. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for church
Recent Examples of Synonyms for church
  1. temple
  2. congregation
  3. clergy
  4. chapel
  5. cathedral
  6. tabernacle
Noun
  • Nolan’s film has Telemachus and his trusted advisor, Mentor (Ryan Hurst), ambushed by the suitors at a temple dedicated to Apollo.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • The scene was both serious and strange — after all, this was Vegas and a member of the Satanic temple with black devil horns affixed to the top of his head was waiting for his turn on the microphone.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of temple
Noun
  • The Wellington Avenue Church congregation voted to join the sanctuary movement — becoming just the second church in the United States to harbor refugees who entered the country illegally.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • The congregation may decide to share its space with a variety of community partners.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
Definition of congregation
Noun
  • Idaho clergy members told the Idaho Statesman this was a complicated, difficult and painful conversation.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • Jones has received endorsements from at least a dozen Black clergy.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of clergy
Noun
  • The reason has never been publicly given, but his lawyers have said their client is on his best behavior, working in the chapel library and partaking in a substance abuse treatment program.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • One of the rooms in the chapel is now being converted into a massive Alarm archive that fans will be able to visit once complete.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 7 July 2026
Definition of chapel
Noun
  • It is presumed to have been commissioned by William the Conqueror’s half-brother, Bishop Odo, to adorn his new cathedral in Bayeux in 1077.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
  • Created in England during the eleventh century, the tapestry has since been housed in the cathedral in Bayeux, France.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 7 July 2026
Definition of cathedral
Noun
  • Built in 1892, the gospel tabernacle once was home to the Grand Ole Opry radio show from 1943 to 1974.
    — USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • In the corner of one of Amsterdam's most elegant 17th-century canal houses, a cheetah leaps from an antique tabernacle.
    — Karen Burshtein, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of tabernacle

Browse Nearby Words

chunters
church
churches
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Cite this Entry

“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/church. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on church

Nglish: Translation of church for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about church

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