dean

noun

ˈdēn How to pronounce dean (audio)
Definition of deannext
as in elder
the senior member of a group the dean of the Aspen ski instructors oversaw the training of the rescue team

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 dean Now in its third year, women make up a majority of the BHC's enrollment, according to the college's dean, Boatamo Ati Mosupyoe. — Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026 This intense focus on helping to ensure the next generation of Frost School students will shape the sound of what comes next can be seen in its appointment of industry veteran Matt Serletic, who attended the event, as its new dean. — Qygwork, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026 The university says the dean of faculty sent the letter to general counsel for verification and then shared it with the independent review. — Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 John Cairney is the dean of the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dean
  1. elder
  2. veteran
  3. doyen
  4. elder statesman
  5. senior
Noun
  • Making Providence’s varsity roster as a freshman forward, Leo Mendoza may have respected his elders a bit too much.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The church elders’ comic banter brings the play to life, but a mother-daughter clash over faith, independence and gender politics feels underdeveloped, despite a visually striking production.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of elder
Noun
  • The Cubs’ World Series MVP praised the mix of hungry veterans and young guys looking to win their first title.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Randle’s wife has her circle of friends nearby, and the veteran forward has his own community outside basketball.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of veteran
Noun
  • One of the doyens of Portuguese coaching, who has managed each of the big three in their home country and led Al Hilal to the title in 2023-24 after a 34-game unbeaten streak, was personally convinced by Ronaldo to cross the divide.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • Back home in Budapest, fellow academics and foreign diplomats marvel at the doyen of Hungarian foreign policy who doesn’t speak Hungarian.
    — Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of doyen
Noun
  • Yesterday’s punk, grunge, and rebel-outsider upstarts have an uncanny way of evolving into today’s elder statesmen of respectable infamy.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The squad’s elder statesmen set standards on the pitch and in the dressing room to help their more junior colleagues along their journey.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of elder statesman
Noun
  • And the population of seniors will grow at a far faster clip than school-aged children.
    — Jennifer Peebles, AJC.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • As of 2022, seniors represented less than 15 percent of the city’s population but accounted for approximately 45 percent of pedestrian fatalities.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of senior

Browse Nearby Words

deal (with)
dean
deans
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dean. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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