DEAN Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

dean

noun

ˈdēn

Definition of dean

as in elder

the senior member of a group the dean of the Aspen ski instructors oversaw the training of the rescue team

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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 Victim 1, however, told detectives that Pinder was the dean of pledges, James was the vice dean of pledges, and Dyous was the one who assigned Pinder and James, according to the arrest warrant affidavits. — Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 Pernkopf was a Nazi functionary who became dean of the medical faculty in 1938 and rector of the university in 1943. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Kuehl pivoted to academia, eventually becoming an associate dean of students at her alma mater, UCLA, before earning a law degree from Harvard in 1978 at age 34. — Sophie Clausen, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Shapiro has been named the next Richard Rodgers dean and director of the drama division at the prestigious school, taking over starting in July 2027. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dean

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dean

Noun

After four days, Ayesha says her family secured her release with the help of community elders, paying a ransom, and providing a formal guarantee of her future conduct.

— Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
On Tuesday, the San Diego County district attorney’s office announced its decision to pursue capital punishment against Leticia McCormack, who was an ordained elder and youth minister at a San Diego church.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of elder

Noun

A day after rookie catcher Daniel Susac was diagnosed with a likely season-ending left knee patellar fracture, the Giants brought back veteran backstop Andrew Knizner on a major-league deal to address the team’s incredibly thin catching depth.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
All four remaining defendants in the case, including NBA veteran Terry Rozier, appeared in court for an update on their case.

— Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 12 Aug. 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

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deal (with)

dean

deans

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“Dean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dean. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dean

noun

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