1
as in churches
a body of persons gathered for religious worship
the whole congregation began to sing with great fervor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in assemblies
a body of people come together in one place
a congregation of journalists were at the hotel bar, discussing the latest developments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of congregations
Gregg held interim pastorates at several other Chicago-area congregations, including the Community Church of Wilmette, the South Church of Mount Prospect, the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood and the United Church of Hyde Park.
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Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Scripture over politics Within her diocese, one of three in the state, Perry said 75% of congregations grew in the past year.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 13 Dec. 2025
With the last night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve falling on the same day this year – something that rarely happens – the reverend and rabbi choose to offer a joint service for their congregations.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
But in several Southern California congregations with large immigrant communities, that sacred anticipation is shadowed by a looming sense of fear.
—Jason Derose, NPR, 1 Dec. 2025
Rolling into Black congregations with a gospel choir featuring a preponderance of non-Black singers meant that the group had to feel the spirit.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
The government has cracked down on independent Christian congregations over the past decade, destroying crosses, burning Bibles, shuttering churches and ordering followers to sign papers renouncing their faith.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
Hundreds of arrests occurred during the multi-day operation, which appears to have moved out of Charlotte on Thursday, but parish leaders say anxiety across Latino congregations is far from gone.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 21 Nov. 2025
The sisters hope the land transfer will serve as a model for Catholic congregations for future reconciliations with tribal nations.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congregations
Noun
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The parade features bands, floats, drill teams, colleges and universities, fraternities, sororities and churches along with peace and youth organizations.—
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Built in the 1960s, St Mungo's Church is part of Trinity Parish Church, a congregation formed in 2024 through the union of other churches in Cumbernauld.—
Noun
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The round-table style of the gathering – pioneered during large-scale assemblies organized by Pope Francis – signals Leo’s plan to continue his predecessor’s approach of seeking a more welcoming church, with leaders listening closely to Catholics in the pews.—
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As a remedy, dealers inspected the affected vehicles and repaired the rear coil assemblies when needed, at no cost to owners.—
Noun
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When are parent-teacher conferences.—
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The guide recommends staying current by reading academic papers, taking courses, and attending conferences.—
Noun
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Non-Orientable Nkansa, 2017, one of his earliest large-scale installations, announced his dedication to monumental assemblages that fixate on negligence and crumbling edifices.—
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His artworks, which include paintings, sculptures, mixed-media assemblages, mosaics, photographs, and film, are full of mood and foreboding.—
Noun
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Pay Attention supports meetings and conversations with real-time transcription and translation when enabled.—
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Instead, Republican staffers sullenly reported to messaging meetings to talk about immigration.—
Noun
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Extra Seating Saab recommends removing any extra seating, such as poufs, stools, or dining chairs that often get pulled in from kitchens, bedrooms, or offices, to accommodate holiday gatherings.—
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The edgy South of Market venue in San Francisco that showcases works from up-and-coming artists is also known as a cool place to host gatherings and celebrations, especially among the city arts crowd.—
Cite this Entry
“Congregations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congregations. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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