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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Recent Examples of dean
Ayanna Howard, the dean of Ohio State University's engineering college and appointee to the federal government's National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, was chosen to be the next president of Spelman College in Atlanta, a historically Black liberal arts institution for women.
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Arkansas Online, 7 June 2026
Brenda McAleer, dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of Maine at Augusta — which is preparing to offer a bachelor’s of applied public administration — said the degrees were designed for adults who already have some work experience or have taken some college courses.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
For one, as University of British Columbia dean of the faculty of dentistry Mary MacDougall told New Scientist last year, the approach may only work in children, who still have plenty of dental epithelial cells, which play a foundational role in the development of teeth.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 June 2026
Carmichael previously served as a science teacher, dean of students and the opening principal of Fruit Cove Middle School.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dean
Arkansas Online, 7 June 2026
Brenda McAleer, dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of Maine at Augusta — which is preparing to offer a bachelor’s of applied public administration — said the degrees were designed for adults who already have some work experience or have taken some college courses.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
For one, as University of British Columbia dean of the faculty of dentistry Mary MacDougall told New Scientist last year, the approach may only work in children, who still have plenty of dental epithelial cells, which play a foundational role in the development of teeth.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 June 2026
Carmichael previously served as a science teacher, dean of students and the opening principal of Fruit Cove Middle School.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dean
Noun
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This is so much from oral tradition told to me again by elders.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
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Ma grew up watching his family elders play, and was relegated to the kids’ table himself.—
Ashley Parker,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Phillies legend Jimmy Rollins will manage the National League team and former MLB veteran Rickie Weeks will lead the American League team.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Brian Gutiérrez, the Mexican American who played a key role in the opener as South Africa was hit a with a red card while trying to stop him, and veteran Roberto Alvarado, who recorded an assist against South Africa, joined Rangel as Chivas starters in the opener.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
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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
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Larijani is also close with former President Hassan Rouhani, who can be brought in from the cold as the doyen of the regime’s West-facing faction.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Tim Ream, 38, the team’s captain and elder statesman by a margin of nearly seven years, was sitting on a couch and simply leaned back in shock, with his hand over his mouth.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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As vilification of the Founders and the Revolution became more common, both in academia and in society at large, Wood functioned as part elder statesman and part lightning rod.—
Craig Bruce Smith,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Toi Reynolds, a parent to a graduating senior, said her daughter also missed out on some academic opportunities due to a lack of classes offered.—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
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Lawmakers also appropriated $143 million to the healthcare program for undocumented immigrant seniors and $4 million for welcoming centers that provide services to immigrants arriving in Illinois.—
Ben Szalinski,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dean. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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