1
as in churches
a body of persons gathered for religious worship
the whole congregation began to sing with great fervor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in assemblies
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
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Recent Examples of congregations
The center assists congregations through three strategies designed to boost rural synagogues.
—
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Today, churches such as Center City’s Arch Street United Methodist Church and North Philly’s Church of the Advocate, along with other congregations, uphold this tradition while a multicultural community across the city continues that fight.
—Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
These are congregations that take Jesus’ command to welcome the stranger literally, transforming their churches into shelters where congregants voluntarily fill round-the-clock shifts, helping families get back on their feet and into permanent housing.
—Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Maundy Thursday services were held at First Presbyterian Church of Elgin and Good Friday with the African American Christian Ministers Alliance, a group of Black pastors and their congregations in the area, and their counterparts from the Aurora-area at Second Baptist in Elgin.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Growing congregations have an incentive to publicize their numbers, which declining ones lack.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Morris is the founder of Gateway Church, a multi-site megachurch based in Texas with one of the largest evangelical congregations in the state.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In the following years many CANA congregations were incorporated into dioceses of ACNA, while others remained affiliated with the Church of Nigeria through the Church of Nigeria North American Mission.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Celebrations at home and in community While traditionally a home celebration, many congregations also hold larger Seders so that participants — especially those with few family connections or who are unable to prepare the meal — can have a place to celebrate with others.
—Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Today, churches such as Center City’s Arch Street United Methodist Church and North Philly’s Church of the Advocate, along with other congregations, uphold this tradition while a multicultural community across the city continues that fight.
—Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
These are congregations that take Jesus’ command to welcome the stranger literally, transforming their churches into shelters where congregants voluntarily fill round-the-clock shifts, helping families get back on their feet and into permanent housing.
—Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Maundy Thursday services were held at First Presbyterian Church of Elgin and Good Friday with the African American Christian Ministers Alliance, a group of Black pastors and their congregations in the area, and their counterparts from the Aurora-area at Second Baptist in Elgin.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Growing congregations have an incentive to publicize their numbers, which declining ones lack.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Morris is the founder of Gateway Church, a multi-site megachurch based in Texas with one of the largest evangelical congregations in the state.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In the following years many CANA congregations were incorporated into dioceses of ACNA, while others remained affiliated with the Church of Nigeria through the Church of Nigeria North American Mission.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Celebrations at home and in community While traditionally a home celebration, many congregations also hold larger Seders so that participants — especially those with few family connections or who are unable to prepare the meal — can have a place to celebrate with others.
—Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congregations
Noun
-
Jen Massey, representing the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and nominated by member Yolanda Narvaez, said that partnering with food pantries, schools, churches and shelters the food bank is able to help them to provide consistent access to food.—
Sharon Hlapcich,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The communion is an association of Christian churches, including the Episcopal Church in the United States, that together have more than 100 million members.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The flexible stack can be laminated under existing display or interface assemblies, allowing integration without major redesigns or complex component integration.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
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The assemblies aren’t the end of the nomination process — indeed, some of the highest-profile names in Democratic politics are foregoing it.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Viewers can expect coverage of alien conferences, crypto-cults and micronations.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
-
For the last two-plus months, Philadelphia has cleaned up against lottery and play-in teams, going an eye-popping 20-3 in their final 23 games against opponents that finished outside the top six in their respective conferences.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That leads to longer build times as those complicated parts are sewn together with assemblages of other, smaller parts, before being shipped across the ocean, and eventually trucked to the final construction site.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
2 Apr. 2026
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Though many were faded and dusty, the assemblages nevertheless crackled with an almost urgent vibrancy, beckoning the viewer closer.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The effort, Mahon said, has included 58 roundtables and meetings with 3,200 local leaders and nonprofits.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
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Though Edmonton sat back and trapped more at times, including late in the year, their pace and personnel allowed for plenty of chances in three head-to-head meetings.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The excitement of the fight for freedom and justice, combined with the energy of mass gatherings, was seductive.—
Nataliya Gumenyuk,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
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The thrill of the secret gatherings remains, but a situation that had seemed impossibly distant now feels disorientingly near.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Congregations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congregations. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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