churches

noun

plural of church
1
as in temples
a building for public worship and especially Christian worship a city that is noted for its many historic churches

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2
as in congregations
a body of persons gathered for religious worship spoke to the whole church at once

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in clergies
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church a time when few young men seem to want to join the church

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 churches The neighborhood had a diner, churches, and dance halls — but construction of the Crosstown freeway in the late 1960s would lead to an exodus of Filipino residents. — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 She’s begun asking local churches and charities for donations. — Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026 Hamilton’s church, the Church of the Resurrection, was at the forefront of making the Methodist church more inclusive of LGBTQ congregants, but many churches also supported the change. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 Casey DeSantis championed Hope Florida, a state initiative meant to get people off state welfare by connecting them with churches and other nonprofits. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 The case has led to calls for tougher oversight of churches and other religious organizations in a country where religious faith plays a prominent role in public life. — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 In fact, the Antichrist and eschatology are arguably the central religious impulse running through American Christianity, and that focus distinguishes the US from most other churches and cultures around the globe. — David Gibson, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026 The concerts are typically staged in unconventional venues, including historic churches, museums and luxury hotels. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026 Over the past several decades, however, a growing percentage of people in Latin America, long a Catholic stronghold, have been embracing evangelical churches. — Johanna Bard Richlin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churches
  1. temples
  2. congregations
  3. cathedrals
Noun
  • The chances of actually witnessing totality at any of the major temples are probably slim.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The deadpan family comedy follows a 63-year-old man who drags nine relatives on a one-day tour of nine temples after a fortune teller warns that his mother will soon die.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of temples
Noun
  • Generations of Black pastors and congregations helped organize movements, mobilize voters and shape the fight for equality.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • One community member told Fox News Digital that some congregations had even canceled afternoon prayers on the Sabbath as demonstrations across France descended into violence.
    — Ariella Noveck, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of congregations
Noun
  • Originally inspired by the basilicas and cathedrals of Paris, Luminiscence co-founder Romain Sarfati and his team developed a way to engage visitors with the historic architectural beauty surrounding them.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Notre Dame Stadium is one of the cathedrals of college football.
    — Curt Rallo, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of cathedrals

Browse Nearby Words

church
churches
churchgoer
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Cite this Entry

“Churches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churches. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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