sexton

Definition of sextonnext
as in steward
a person who takes care of church buildings and property and often rings the church's bell during services a sexton who kept the church immaculate for over forty-five years

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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 sexton At several synagogues, services were interrupted as the sextons stood up and called out the names of young men who were being summoned to duty; other worshipers, on hearing the news, quickly folded their prayer shawls and departed; some returned later, in uniform, to bid their families goodbye. Time, 11 Oct. 2023 The pair grew up in Seminary, a historically Black community near the Virginia Theological Seminary, where their grandfather worked as a sexton. Peter Jamison, Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2023 The board has also welcomed a full-time sexton at Spring Grove Cemetery. Sam Boyer, cleveland, 16 Dec. 2022 Junior Roop, the sexton of a cemetery near the spill site, said people could smell the oil in town. CBS News, 9 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for sexton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sexton
steward
Noun
  • Robinson, together with his brother, Rich, have been the two continuous Black Crowes members throughout their turbulent history — unapologetic stewards who carried the tradition of American rock music during a transitional period for the genre.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Ronnie Sassoon and James Crump, the home’s current stewards, mean to change all that.
    Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2026

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“Sexton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sexton. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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