as in elders
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 deans
There are no deans or Title IX officers intervening.
—
Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Pageants, deans' lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
In addition, the research deans from various colleges here at MSU discuss these issues regularly with each other and other university officials to strategize how to navigate these difficult times, sharing information among people with different roles.
—Nara Parameswaran, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
These are the terms favored in higher ed, terms that make assessment possible, terms that accreditors and deans like.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Juan Baez, president of the Administrators and Supervisors Council and principal of the Milwaukee School of Languages, said deans and assistant principals are often the first to respond to safety concerns and conflicts.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Also, there are academic department consolidations under discussion with deans and faculty, the provost wrote.
—Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Foran forwarded the email to deans in the art college.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
In conducting the self-review, however, Khator and some of her academic deans sent communications to faculty that referenced the new state law, which doesn’t contain any reference to indoctrination.
—Samantha Ketterer, Houston Chronicle, 7 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Pageants, deans' lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
In addition, the research deans from various colleges here at MSU discuss these issues regularly with each other and other university officials to strategize how to navigate these difficult times, sharing information among people with different roles.
—Nara Parameswaran, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
These are the terms favored in higher ed, terms that make assessment possible, terms that accreditors and deans like.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Juan Baez, president of the Administrators and Supervisors Council and principal of the Milwaukee School of Languages, said deans and assistant principals are often the first to respond to safety concerns and conflicts.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Also, there are academic department consolidations under discussion with deans and faculty, the provost wrote.
—Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Foran forwarded the email to deans in the art college.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
In conducting the self-review, however, Khator and some of her academic deans sent communications to faculty that referenced the new state law, which doesn’t contain any reference to indoctrination.
—Samantha Ketterer, Houston Chronicle, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deans
Noun
-
Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
On this day families gather for festive meals, and the young seek blessings from their elders.—
Tamanna Nangia,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bishop acquired the property, intending to preserve the inactive cemetery as a memorial site for the military veterans buried there, some dating back to the Civil War.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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There’s also a new exemption for veterans who have a 100% disability rating, though the application for that will not be available from the state until after July 1.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though young missing-persons detective Dalia (May Calamawy) is earnest in her attempts to help, her superiors cast suspicion on Katie’s parents; eight years later, the girl is still missing, while the family has relocated to New Mexico.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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Based on their own investigation, Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to their superiors at DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.—
Doug Bock Clark,
ProPublica,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deans. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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