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
  • Visitors can poke around in buildings like the soldiers’ barracks, the hospital, the officers’ quarters, and the Catholic chapel, many of which contain period artifacts and informative exhibits.
    — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026
  • Officials recently unveiled a collection of 130-year-old wine that was covertly hidden beneath a chapel floor in a medieval castle.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of chapel
Noun
  • Restaurants and hotels there are much cheaper, there are regular ferries to places such as the town of Amalfi, and the city has attractions of its own, including a lively seaside promenade and an old town with an impressive medieval cathedral.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 19 July 2026
  • Look for museums, churches and cathedrals To escape the sun, tour guides recommend heading inside museums, churches and cathedrals, which tend to be cooler because of thick walls, high ceilings and, sometimes, air conditioning.
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 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 23 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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