1
as in temple
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship
a city that is noted for its many historic churches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in congregation
a body of persons gathered for religious worship
spoke to the whole church at once
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in clergy
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church
a time when few young men seem to want to join the church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of church
Institutions of higher learning, schools, churches, museums ruined.
—
Askold Haywas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
This is the second-to-last scene of The Graduate, as Benjamin Braddock and Elaine Robinson flee the church, barring the doors with a cross, before racing to the bus and freedom.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
But the Russian revolution threw the Russian Orthodox denomination into chaos as American churches fought for control amid shifting alliances, eventually splitting from the mother church.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
The couple quickly went public, begging for information or for whomever might have taken her to leave her at a hospital, church, a fire station.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for church
Askold Haywas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
This is the second-to-last scene of The Graduate, as Benjamin Braddock and Elaine Robinson flee the church, barring the doors with a cross, before racing to the bus and freedom.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
But the Russian revolution threw the Russian Orthodox denomination into chaos as American churches fought for control amid shifting alliances, eventually splitting from the mother church.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
The couple quickly went public, begging for information or for whomever might have taken her to leave her at a hospital, church, a fire station.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for church
Recent Examples of Synonyms for church
Noun
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Director Kim Hyung-jun, who previously directed the political comedy My Fellow Citizens, opens the drama with an engagingly moody scene set in an empty Buddhist temple.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Traditionally they are found in temples, but some are hung at home.—
Alicia Ault,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This was the world’s largest reptile congregation, an ecological phenomenon unlike anything else on Earth.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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It's now used as an educational community center, as the congregation built a new church in 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement.—
Jalynn Hilton,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Will that change under Trump 2.0? Love Trump or hate him, all Jews should object to his appropriation of ‘Shalom’ | Commentary Photographs of the clergy holding the sign made it into much of the media coverage of the event.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Mar. 2025
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Eulogies were given by clergy members, who were unlikely to have known the deceased as well as their relatives and friends, and could inadvertently make mistakes — misattributing specific virtues, for example.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The community also includes a community/conference center, a chapel, walking trails and commercial space.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2025
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The very last piece in the school’s master plan is a new chapel, planned for an empty lot on the edge of the King’s Quad.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In Argentina, whose population is roughly 63 percent Catholic, people celebrated Bergoglio’s ascendancy to the papacy with jubilation in the streets; thousands headed to the country’s cathedrals waving Argentine flags.—
Federico Perelmuter,
The Dial,
13 Mar. 2025
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The Ones swear loyalty to the queen of Good (Camille Cottin), who’s headquartered in a space cathedral linked to the area via an undersea portal.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Blessed Sacrament Chapel’s tabernacle is supported by three legs, symbolizing the Holy Trinity.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
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Wye Oak Tavern is located in what used to be the school's chapel, with soaring ceilings, stained glass, a tabernacle, and a sizable pipe organ.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/church. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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