1
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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of church
The performances will mainly take place in concert halls, theaters, and churches.
—
Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
There would definitely be God at the center of it and a church.
—Maria Bamford, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
For fine dining, La Cava serves upscale Italian cuisine in an historic church setting.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
The couple stepped out with Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, to celebrate Easter with the royals at a church service, then scaled down their royal duties to spend time as a family during the school vacation.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for church
Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
There would definitely be God at the center of it and a church.
—Maria Bamford, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
For fine dining, La Cava serves upscale Italian cuisine in an historic church setting.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
The couple stepped out with Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, to celebrate Easter with the royals at a church service, then scaled down their royal duties to spend time as a family during the school vacation.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for church
Recent Examples of Synonyms for church
Noun
-
Her father was a sculptor and her grandfather an architect known for designing temples across East Asia.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Savor the jaunt through Los Rosales—make stops at the Temple of Debod (an Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century BC) and the Royal Palace (the largest of its kind in Europe), with unbeatable views of the mountains and centuries of history all around you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As each week’s Shabbat morning service comes to a close at Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach an unusual tradition unfolds as the congregation prepares to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish.—
Stewart Ain,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
-
These congregations just completely dispense with any allegiance to the American idea of pluralism or anything but White Christian nationalism.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Talk to a trusted friend, a clergy person or see a therapist.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
And throughout this service congregants and clergy alike prostrated dozens of times.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Step back in time with a visit to this fado joint, built in a former chapel in Alfama, with the original tiles and murals still on the walls.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Upon Pope Leo’s election in May 2025, Villanova students and faculty flocked to the on-campus chapel as the church bells rang out across the Philadelphia campus.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nearby, textile stronghold Reguengos is famous for its handwoven rugs and blankets, while—further afield—the regional capital Évora is a Unesco World Heritage Site with medieval palaces and a vast gothic cathedral worthy of extended exploration.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Across the Atlantic Ocean in the Netherlands, people filed into a neo-Gothic cathedral late last month for a meeting of the Offline Club.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Vandals broke into a Catholic school in Long Beach overnight Monday, stealing church items, damaging statues and tossing the tabernacle to the ground, according to police and school officials.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/church. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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