deaconess

noun

Definition of deaconessnext
as in clergyman

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 deaconess Then in 1964, Parks became a deaconess in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025 In her younger years, Webb was an avid churchgoer in Baltimore, Maryland alongside her father, a deacon, and her mother, a deaconess, who met in a church choir. — Robyn Mowatt, ELLE, 22 June 2023 Welcome to the Rehearsal Club, an artist residency and the one-year-old reincarnation of a nonprofit organization founded in 1913 by Jane Harriss Hall, an Episcopal deaconess, and Jean Greer, the daughter of New York’s Episcopal bishop. — Joanne Kaufman, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deaconess
  1. clergyman
  2. priestess
  3. deacon
  4. bishop
  5. presbyter
  6. dean
  7. clergywoman
  8. churchman
Noun
  • Without the charismatic clergyman, what kind of unruly Black-underclass anger would take the stage?
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • When Yakovlev mentioned the clergyman who attended the death-bed, Adelaide expressed surprise that John had asked to see a pastor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of clergyman
Noun
  • The oracle was a priestess who entered a trance state to convey answers from Apollo, the Greek god of prophecy.
    — Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The episode explores the story of Madame LaLaurie (Kathy Bates), her cruel actions, and what voodoo priestess Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) did to her.
    — Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of priestess
Noun
  • These female bishops, in turn, ordained more women as deacons, priests and bishops.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The youngest, a middle-school basketball coach who’s thinking about becoming a deacon or pastor, isn’t sure.
    — Eric Lau, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of deacon
Noun
  • Leo served as a missionary and bishop in Peru for a number of years.
    — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • From left, the other women are Paula Hoeffer, a bishop, and priests Amy Bruner and Mary Smith.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of bishop
Noun
  • This would be the case also for an apostate, heretic, schismatic bishop, presbyter, or deacon.
    — Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021
  • Before coming to Birmingham, Webster had served 18 years as executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Sierra Blanca in southern New Mexico.
    — Greg Garrison, AL.com, 19 July 2017
Definition of presbyter
Noun
  • Leadership at the university turned over last year, with the president, the dean of students and the director of Greek life all departing.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Parolin, who had been Francis' top deputy but remains in the job, was considered a leading contender in the conclave that elected Leo and was recently passed over as dean of the College of Cardinals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of dean
Noun
  • Patterson, an ordained clergywoman with a background in healthcare, joined the Legislature via a special election in 2020.
    — oregonlive, oregonlive, 8 Nov. 2022
Definition of clergywoman
Noun
  • Meanwhile, churchmen claimed the authority to restrain violence, encouraged just wars and threatened violent behaviors with spiritual sanctions.
    — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Not all birth rituals depended on the intercession of a saint or the authority of a churchman.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of churchman

Browse Nearby Words

deacon
deaconess
deaconesses
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deaconess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deaconess. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of disparate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All