Synonym Chooser

How does the verb congregate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of congregate are assemble, collect, and gather. While all these words mean "to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit," congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle.

congregating under a shelter

Where would assemble be a reasonable alternative to congregate?

The words assemble and congregate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose.

experts assembled for a conference

When could collect be used to replace congregate?

Although the words collect and congregate have much in common, collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement.

collected books on gardening

When can gather be used instead of congregate?

While the synonyms gather and congregate are close in meaning, gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state.

a crowd quickly gathered

Examples 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 congregate In response to the news of the hearing date, LGBTQ+ advocates pledged to congregate in Washington, D.C. for the start of oral arguments. Quispe López, Them, 18 Oct. 2024 In medieval Europe, villagers and monks who congregated in great cold churches chanted their prayers, also responsively, because that was how the words of their faith could waft into the vaults and acquire divine resonance before enveloping the faithful in reverberant song. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 16 Oct. 2024 And now there’s a place for Weinman and other addicts to congregate. Jordan Novet, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2024 Police will also keep a closer eye on specific locations around the city — in downtown, the Eastside and the east San Fernando Valley — where fans have traditionally congregated following big sports victories. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for congregate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congregate
Verb
  • What’s needed next is a community of amateur radio astronomers who can begin gathering data that will complement the work of their professional colleagues, just as amateur astronomers working in the visible part of the spectrum have done for hundreds of years.
    The Physics arXiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
  • OnX gathers that data and builds layers of graphics that show exactly where app users should avoid and displays it on a phone or tablet on the onX Backcountry, onX Offroad, and onX Hunt apps.
    Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Their stories converge through a memory-donation program designed for homesick migrants.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Boeing suffers in one of the fastest-growing aviation sectors as COMAC and Chinese authorities converge increasingly.
    Jim Osman, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The filing also details ongoing legal proceedings with the Vivos Group, including arbitration awards and the appointment of a receiver to collect damages.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • In October, cities such as Newark, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; and Norfolk, Virginia, recorded no rain at all, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, which collects precipitation data across the country.
    Melissa Chan, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The council met in executive session to discuss appointing a new member to the Planning and Zoning Commission and to name a new associate judge for the Bee Cave Municipal Court.
    Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • New and returning lawmakers meet Tuesday to pick their leaders for the 2025-26 session, where Republicans again will control the House and Senate.
    Christopher Howley, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • However, crews assembled shoring towers this week to stabilize the bridge.
    Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Security leaders should assemble an organizational structure that clearly delineates accountability, fosters teamwork and instills a sense of personal ownership among team members.
    Chaim Mazal, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Saudi government convened some 40 countries (not including Russia) in Jeddah in August 2023 to discuss principles for ending the war.
    Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Next week, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will convene the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, where countries aim to set new climate finance targets that could help meet those Paris goals in an ever-warming world.
    Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • She’s amassed more than 130 theater, television and film credits.
    Daniel Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The first season aired on YouTube, with the first ep having amassed 14 million views via the Sidemen YouTube channel, which has 21.8 million subscribers while the group have nearly 150 million subs between them.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Following a transpacific flight, the American bomber rendezvoused with four Japanese F-2 fighter jets, four South Korean F-15K fighter jets, as well as three U.S. F-16 fighter jets that were forward-deployed in South Korea, for a trilateral escort flight of the bomber.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced a mission called Ramses, which is going to rendezvous with Apophis, too, some two months before that close pass.
    Lee Billings, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near congregate

Cite this Entry

“Congregate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congregate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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