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 Guzman, a former law school dean who became provost in 2023, faced similar tests over protests and free speech. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Attending the drama school at the same time as Douglas was Evan Yionoulis, the new artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the new dean of the David Geffen School of Drama. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026 Allison was founding dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School, which for decades trained many of China’s government officials. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026 Nitin Nohria spent a decade as dean of Harvard Business School, and taught his first workshop there for new CEOs in 1997. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dean

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dean

Noun

If that doesn’t sound heady enough, Neon also has Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, a three-hour movie about the practical application of the Humanitude methodology in a French elder-care facility.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
This could’ve been a story of seasoned elders welcoming a new voice into their fold.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of elder

Noun

Then Kreiz took the mallet and landed a cannon-shot ring on the bell that was so loud that one of the Citadel traders turned around in shock, and even Wall Street veteran Gerry Cardinale’s eyebrows were raised.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Seiber, 40, was a father of two and an Air Force veteran who served 10 years with the Philadelphia Police Department.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 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

Access is included with standard garden admission, which costs $18 for adults, $14 for seniors or students and $8 for children ages 3 to 12.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Looking for safety Michele, the parent of a high school senior, said her son — attracted to Cornell’s prestige — was planning on applying regular decision to the university.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of senior

Browse Nearby Words

deal (with)

dean

deans

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“Dean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dean. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dean

noun

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