deacon

noun

ˈdē-kən How to pronounce deacon (audio)
Definition of deaconnext
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 deacon Her parents, Baptist deacons who ultimately left the church over its refusal to ordain women, raised their children to wrestle with such questions. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 When there’s a big medical bill, the deacon, or maybe some sort of committee, a small committee within the church, try to pull some funds together to pay for it. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 6 June 2026 Palmer came from a modest upbringing in the Chicago suburbs, the daughter of a teacher and a Catholic deacon. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 May 2026 Titian painted Saint Lawrence—a third-century church deacon who was slow-roasted for defying Roman authorities—bound to a palette over a sizzling fire, while a man thrusts a long, forked skewer into his torso. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for deacon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deacon
  1. priest
  2. preacher
  3. bishop
  4. clergyman
  5. pastor
Noun
  • When 70 chickens at a local farm lay 128 eggs in just one night after the arrival of a red helmet biker Emanuel, the event is described as a miracle and Emanuel hailed by the local priest as a prophet of divine powers.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Moretta is 10 years past the customary retirement age for Catholic priests.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of priest
Noun
  • In the book, a man known only as the Shepherd, a one-handed, somewhat insane preacher, starts turning the masses of King’s Landing against the Targaryens — and their dragons.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Burkes were also very religious, with Dawud occasionally serving as a Pentecostal preacher.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of preacher
Noun
  • Man of books and learning Several of the videos show Athanasius of Alexandria, a fourth-century bishop and theologian traditionally considered one of the church fathers.
    — Denva Gallant, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • Juan José Gerardi Conedera (born December 27, 1922, Guatemala City, Guatemala—killed April 26, 1998, Guatemala City) was a Guatemalan Roman Catholic bishop and human rights activist.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
Definition of bishop
Noun
  • Such details include McCartney’s bare feet and opposite stride and the other members’ attire (Lennon’s white supposedly represents a clergyman, Starr’s black a mourner, and Harrison’s denim a gravedigger).
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 July 2026
  • Robin, our hero, is the son of a country clergyman.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of clergyman
Noun
  • Jones represents Deacon Charles McClendon and the faction of the church that filed a lawsuit last week seeking the widow's removal as interim pastor.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Jacobita Cortes, a United Methodist pastor in Chicago, said that fear has changed the rhythms of her community.
    — Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of pastor

Browse Nearby Words

dazzlingly
deacon
deaconess
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Cite this Entry

“Deacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deacon. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deacon

Nglish: Translation of deacon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deacon

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