CHURCH Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

church

noun

ˈchərch

Definition of church

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

Relevance

as in congregation

a body of persons gathered for religious worship spoke to the whole church at once

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

laity

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 But her manifesto to Bek could have come directly from the church’s teachings. — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026 Researching religious-art theft, Gurrea came across Erik the Belgian, a notorious thief who targeted churches across Spain during the 20th century. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 The Vatican confirmed this summer that a church trial against Rupnik is ongoing. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 Nearly 20 years later, Overton has not returned to Gallup, the city of 20,000 nestled along Route 66 where her father still leads a charismatic church. — Margaret Manto, STAT, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for church

Recent Examples of Synonyms for church

Noun

Sea turtles now nest on the secluded sandy beach that’s for all intents and purposes private, save for villagers occasionally visiting the small oceanfront temple for ceremonies.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Tokyo’s hospitality scene is as diverse as the city itself, a place of dizzying contrasts where ancient temples sit in the shadow of gleaming skyscrapers, and traditional craftsmanship juxtaposes cutting-edge technology.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of temple

Noun

College Principal Robert Wafula said the training ensures the correct message is taught to congregations and has helped in other countries such as Rwanda, where the government closed 70 Quaker churches in a recent crackdown led by untrained pastors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
The American Council for Judaism was especially prominent in the South, with its more integrated Jewish communities, and brought him to the attention of the Houston congregation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of congregation

Noun

Meanwhile, local Church leaders hope the pope's visit will repair the Church's standing after a crushing 2021 report found that some 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seven decades.

— Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
Though Rome was not convinced (Columbus had not, to anyone’s knowledge, performed any miracles), in 1892, Pope Leo XIII did issue a special encyclical calling on all clergy in the Americas and in Europe to hold a special Mass each Columbus Day.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of clergy

Noun

His works range from an 88-foot-long abstract painting In This Land (2019) to a large-scale installation, From Asterisks in Dockery (2012), inspired by a chapel formerly on the Dockery Plantation in Mississippi.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
In 1997, archaeologists found nine medieval skeletons beneath the ground of a chapel within Stirling Castle.

— Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of chapel

Noun

Pope Francis had refused repeatedly to make a proper state visit to France during his 12-year pontificate and pointedly refused to join the inauguration of the rebuilt Notre Dame cathedral in 2024.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
That year, the retailer also completed the renovation of the three levels dedicated to women’s fashion of its crown jewel, the Milan flagship overlooking the Duomo cathedral.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of cathedral

Noun

Those who make the pilgrimage to Temple Square will encounter a host of other attractions and activities, including new exhibits, live concerts and video projections on the ceiling of the tabernacle.

— Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of tabernacle

Browse Nearby Words

chunters

church

churches

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“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/church. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of church

noun

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