CHURCH Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

church

noun

ˈchərch

Definition of church

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

Relevance

as in congregation

a body of persons gathered for religious worship spoke to the whole church at once

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

laity

Example Sentences

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 church Church leaders are proposing an expansion that would add more than 700 burial plots to the front lawn of the church at the corner of Merrick Road and Cedar Shore Drive. — Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Children were taken by bus to a nearby church serving as a reunification center for families. — Haven Daley, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Pope Leo, a Chicago native and the first American pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the church's 267th pontiff in May 2025. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 The church unleashes a campaign—online and onsite—demanding the family’s religious freedom, and the most fervent outcry and mobilization come from the political far right. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for church

Recent Examples of Synonyms for church

Noun

Behind the metallic Ray-Ban logo on the right temple is a touch surface for taps and swipes to accept calls and control audio playback.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
The Grammy winner's makeup, by makeup artist Dee, was a fun, colorful mix of hues, including cerulean blue, daffodil yellow, and orchid pink, with a brighter pink applied high up on her cheekbones and buffed out to her temples.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of temple

Noun

The congregation of athletic aficionados keen to connect with their idols and fellow fans is indicative of a wider trend.

— Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
The seven temples — at a conservative estimate — represent congregations of about 15,000 people, said Jasjit Singh, a Sikh community leader and trustee for the Sacramento City Unified School District.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of congregation

Noun

Advertisement The revolution still to come At the heart of the French Revolution of 1789 was the abolition of the privileges of the aristocracy and clergy.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Magic needs no congregation, clergy or theology, so believers can adopt it without leaving their church.

— Ruiqian Li, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of clergy

Noun

The Rosary prayer was recited in the hospital chapel Tuesday evening, attended by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
The operation got underway as medical staff recited the Rosary prayer in the hospital chapel Tuesday evening.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of chapel

Noun

Those who make the pilgrimage to Temple Square will encounter a host of other attractions and activities, including new exhibits, live concerts and video projections on the ceiling of the tabernacle.

— Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Built in 1892, the gospel tabernacle once was home to the Grand Ole Opry radio show from 1943 to 1974.

— USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Definition of tabernacle

Browse Nearby Words

chunters

church

churches

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/church. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of church

noun

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