churches

plural of church
1
as in temples
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship a city that is noted for its many historic churches

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

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3
as in clergies
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church a time when few young men seem to want to join the church

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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 churches Institutions such as schools and churches have a structural role to play. Christian B. Miller, The Conversation, 4 June 2026 After, make your way to two lovely churches, Santa Tecla, by the side of the lake, and San Giovanni, up the hill in the town’s center. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Lots of churches, lots of people singing it at their graduations. Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026 The company handles more than $6 billion in payments a year for tens of thousands of churches and nonprofits. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 2 June 2026 Along the route at potlucks and receptions in churches, bars, schools, and living rooms, Brent spoke and listened. Christina Ray Stanton, Time, 2 June 2026 The Main Square—one of the largest medieval squares in Europe—is surrounded by Renaissance palaces, churches and towers that survived two world wars. Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 Ancient Roman ruins sit alongside medieval churches and buildings rebuilt during the Yugoslavian era after a majority of the city’s buildings were destroyed when bombed by the Allies during World War II. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026 Even so, Bozzo exhorted the community to continue relying on the city and gathering in spaces that felt safer, like churches or city-run events. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churches
Noun
  • Together the two events stretch across three days of parades, markets and candle lightings throughout Chiang Mai’s old city and surrounding temples.
    Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026
  • The importance of shrines and temples to the cultural life of Tokyo can’t be overstated.
    Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Buses arrive with congregations from as far away as Tampa, a nine-hour journey round-trip.
    Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
  • Churches in Atlanta and Maui, Hawaii, both cited the declining and aging population of their priests and congregations as an explanation of their order’s departures.
    Hannah Brueske, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • College football’s greatest assets are its fans and cathedrals.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
  • The result is not the hushed heaviness of many European cathedrals, but something brighter and much more vertical.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Churches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churches. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

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