Synonym Chooser

How does the verb congregate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of congregate are assemble, collect, and gather. While all these words mean "to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit," congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

Where would assemble be a reasonable alternative to congregate?

The words assemble and congregate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

When could collect be used to replace congregate?

Although the words collect and congregate have much in common, collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When can gather be used instead of congregate?

While the synonyms gather and congregate are close in meaning, gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

a crowd quickly gathered

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 congregate And only five mother-calf pairs were identified in Laguna San Ignacio, where most of the wintering whales tend to congregate, Swartz said. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Eventually, we were allowed to leave the train to stretch our legs (emergency ladders had been attached to help people get down the steep incline we were stuck on), and passengers congregated in the field to the side of the rails. Jamie Ditaranto, AFAR Media, 5 May 2025 And once the final buzzer sounded, once the Canadiens lost 4-1 to the Washington Capitals, ending their season, every player congregated around defenceman David Savard, who had just finished the last game of his NHL career. Arpon Basu, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Everyone likes the chance to have lunch outside their home occasionally, and communities need a place to congregate, ideally simultaneously. Byalex Ledsom, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for congregate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congregate
Verb
  • During the current Nile Conference, the team has organised watch parties in Nairobi for every game, creating communal spaces for fans to gather, celebrate, and share in the excitement of the team’s historic debut in the continental championship.
    Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Supporters of Palestine gather at Harvard University to protest against Israel's war in Gaza.
    Nik Popli, Time, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Allan described the three converging fronts of the perfect storm: AI is creating more code than ever.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • At The Donum Estate, Oracle has found not just a physical home, but a spiritual one—a place where Biggers’ layered histories, material choices, and contemplative intentions converge into a singular, powerful experience.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Sightings for the study were collected across an area extending from Queensland down to Tasmania and across to New Zealand’s South Island.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • That means spearfishing, collecting fruits of the land, and more.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • With a black brace on his left arm, Steele met with reporters in the home clubhouse before Tuesday’s 4-3 11-inning win over the Colorado Rockies, publicly addressing his future for the first time since the operation.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • On May 26, the royal couple will visit a large park in Ottawa and meet vendors and artists, according to Buckingham Palace.
    Michael Holden, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Currently, the modules are manually assembled in a factory with builder partners.
    Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • And — deep breath — assembling rockets at Cape Canaveral.
    Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Against that backdrop, TIME convened an Impact Dinner on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C.
    Nik Popli, Time, 21 May 2025
  • Republicans convened the House Rules Committee hearing shortly after midnight, but Johnson’s Memorial Day deadline for House passage was slipping as lawmakers prepared to depart for the holiday.
    Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Months before, Elliott had amassed an 11% stake in the company.
    Sean Conlon, CNBC, 29 May 2025
  • TikTok Reacts The TikTok video amassed over 8.6 million views and 1.3 million likes as of Wednesday.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Cue a mad dash to rendezvous with his business associates, all the while foiling further assassination plots.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 18 May 2025
  • The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous and dock at the Tiangong space station around 6.5 hours after launch.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Congregate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congregate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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