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congregation

noun

ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce congregation (audio)
Definition of congregationnext
1
as in church
a body of persons gathered for religious worship the whole congregation began to sing with great fervor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in assembly
a body of people come together in one place a congregation of journalists were at the hotel bar, discussing the latest developments

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 congregation The congregation at Messiah Lutheran Church celebrated its official grand reopening Sunday. — Raymond Strickland, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 Weddum said the police officer had been hired to protect the congregation that day. — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026 Rinse Outdoor Surfaces Outdoor surfaces like siding, outdoor lights, windows, patios, and garage doors can become congregation spots for lovebugs during swarms. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 The church said Wallace had been fired from her position and had not been a member of its congregation. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for congregation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congregation
  1. church
  2. assembly
  3. assemblage
  4. conference
  5. meeting
  6. audience
Noun
  • The hues throughout the rooms are modern and warm, with touches of blues and greens that mirror the color of the city’s lake, mountains, and church rooftops.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
  • San Miguel de Allende is celebrated for its thriving arts and culinary scenes, as well as Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the neo-Gothic church that soars above the historic city’s central plaza.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of church
Noun
  • The countries that have thus far condemned Israeli actions during the 2026 assembly stretched beyond its regional rivals like Jordan, Turkey, Qatar, and Iran.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Kenya’s participation reflects its ambition to develop more of the textile supply chain alongside its garment assembly business.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of assembly
Noun
  • For decades, the Smithsonian Institution, which draws some 15 million visitors every year to its assemblage of 21 museums — bounty that has no real global peer — has managed to stay mostly above the political fray.
    — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2026
  • There’s the largest assemblage of Lichtenstein mirror works ever installed together in a museum context, and a complete re-creation of his first Pop art show at Leo Castelli’s gallery uptown.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of assemblage
Noun
  • Within a few short months of the conference, by intertwining human insight with AI scale, the decades-old mystery would collapse.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • This year’s conference will feature a moderated conversation between Obama and Peter Mallouk, the company’s president and chief financial officer.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of conference
Noun
  • In the very near future, the most consequential presence in your next client meeting may not be seated at the table.
    — Lital Marom, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • After receiving a letter of protest, President Meyer summoned a general meeting on November 23.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of meeting
Noun
  • What’s impressive is that the movie expanded its audience beyond the Milla Jovovich movies.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
  • And while technology has changed dramatically over the years, the characters and voices audiences have grown to love have remained the same.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of audience

Browse Nearby Words

congregating
congregation
congregations
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Cite this Entry

“Congregation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congregation. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on congregation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about congregation

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