churches

Definition of churchesnext
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

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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 bill, which has similar versions in the House and in the Senate, would exempt volunteers who provide armed security services at churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship from the required Class D and G licenses held by professional security services. Lauren Costantino february 5, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 Martin has given her presentation to countless audiences, including programs at schools, churches, park district and twice for the American Medical Association. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 Phoenix is a melting pot of cultural diversity, with businesses, churches and restaurants celebrating the rich backgrounds of the people that live here, but Phoenix wasn't always like this. Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 5 Feb. 2026 Talent pointed to the low number of immigration enforcement operations at churches since the policy was rescinded as a reason the churches do not have a valid claim that they are threatened by possible immigration raids. Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 5 Feb. 2026 All 183 Christians abducted from churches last month are freed as government deploys military to protect vulnerable communities. Ope Adetayo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Four of Cincinnati's oldest West Side parishes are making plans to merge into a new parish that would serve hundreds of Catholics who attend their churches and schools. Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Feb. 2026 Help Memphis is also working with schools, churches and community organizations to expand the initiative across the area in places including Orange Mound, Frayser and Whitehaven. Corey Davis, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 3 Feb. 2026 Before production, Nierenberg, who is white, spent more than a year in African American churches and communities, gaining the trust of the performers. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churches
Noun
  • The Temple of Artemis, whose origins date back as early as the 7th century BCE, was one of the largest Greek temples ever built.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • As Szakin points out, visiting temples and shrines such as Meiji Shrine or Senso-ji in Tokyo is often one of the most affordable ways to experience Japan’s history and culture.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But mirroring a national trend of shrinking religious orders and congregations, the last nuns left in 2022.
    Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Leaders and members of more than 600 congregations of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church have signed onto a full-page ad in The Charlotte Observer condemning aggressive conduct by federal immigration agencies.
    Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Carved from porous tufa stone once covered by the sea, the four wine cathedrals are considered an engineering marvel.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Gothic architecture, on the other hand, focused on height and light; despite being constructed from heavy stone, Gothic cathedrals seem to defy the laws of gravity.
    Stefanie Waldek, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Churches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churches. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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