deacon

noun

ˈdē-kən How to pronounce deacon (audio)
Definition of deaconnext
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 deacon Her parents, Baptist deacons who ultimately left the church over its refusal to ordain women, raised their children to wrestle with such questions. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 The research in the Diocese of Saginaw reviewed allegations against 37 priests and one deacon, 30 of whom are known or presumed to be dead. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 25 June 2026 When there’s a big medical bill, the deacon, or maybe some sort of committee, a small committee within the church, try to pull some funds together to pay for it. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 6 June 2026 Palmer came from a modest upbringing in the Chicago suburbs, the daughter of a teacher and a Catholic deacon. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for deacon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deacon
  1. priest
  2. preacher
  3. bishop
  4. clergyman
  5. pastor
Noun
  • On July 2, the Vatican decreed the excommunication of the SSPX’s bishops and priests, one day after the group consecrated four new bishops in Switzerland without the pope’s consent.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
  • Part of the Theban Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Sheikh Abd El-Qurna cemetery is known for its concentration of tombs of priests and high-ranking officials from Egypt’s New Kingdom (1570–1069 BCE).
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of priest
Noun
  • On June 27, 2026, at Trinity Pride Fest in Fort Worth, Texas, street preachers Richard Penkoski and David Grisham were subjected to multiple violations of their First Amendment rights while attempting to preach on public property.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Instead, there are countless influencers, preachers, and personalities who have created niche movements with their own theologies and political alignments.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 11 July 2026
Definition of preacher
Noun
  • Man of books and learning Several of the videos show Athanasius of Alexandria, a fourth-century bishop and theologian traditionally considered one of the church fathers.
    — Denva Gallant, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • Juan José Gerardi Conedera (born December 27, 1922, Guatemala City, Guatemala—killed April 26, 1998, Guatemala City) was a Guatemalan Roman Catholic bishop and human rights activist.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
Definition of bishop
Noun
  • Robin, our hero, is the son of a country clergyman.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
  • The trio of vicars starts with James Norton as Sidney Chambers, the doe-eyed clergyman with a taste for cool jazz and clever women.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 14 June 2026
Definition of clergyman
Noun
  • The pastor didn’t suggest endorsing candidates, but instead focusing on issues, like advocating for immigration reform, and using religion as a tool for community organizing.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • In 1872, Harvey Johnson came to Baltimore as pastor of Union Baptist Church, located on Druid Hill Avenue.
    — Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026
Definition of pastor

Browse Nearby Words

dazzlingly
deacon
deaconess
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Cite this Entry

“Deacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deacon. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deacon

Nglish: Translation of deacon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deacon

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