If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Source: tatoeba (693544)
Brethren
/ˈbɹɛðɹən/
Synonyms for "brethren" (72 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (15)
Noun(3 words)
Strong matches (21)
Noun(7 words)
congregationcountry cousincousincousin once removedcousin twice removeddaughterfatherfirst cousinflockfoldfoster brotherfratergrandnephewgrandniece
Related words (36)
grandunclegreat-auntgreat-unclehalf brotherkid brotherlaitylaymenminyanmothernephewniecenonclericsnonordained personsnunclenunksnunkyparishparishionerspeoplesecond cousin
Show 15 more words
Noun(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: assembly, aunt, auntie, blood brother, brother.
- Sentence evidence is available for brethren, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "brethren".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "brethren"
Keep "brethren" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "brethren" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "brethren", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "brethren" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
9 entriesbrethren in Christcongregationfellow believersfellow citizensfellow scholarsfellowshipfull brotherhalf brotherstepbrother
Collocations
10 entriesbrethren assemblybrethren councilbrethren in Christbrethren in armsbrethren in needdear brethrenelder brethrenesteemed brethrenfellow brethrenmy brethren
Derivations
1 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
Snippy had the bluest blood of all his crab brethren.
Source: tatoeba (779143)
Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Source: tatoeba (3878359)
"Then wars shall cease and savage times grow mild, / and Remus and Quirinus, brethren twain, / with hoary Faith and Vesta undefiled, / shall give the law. With iron bolt and chain / firm-closed the gates of Janus shall remain. / Within, the Fiend of Discord, high reclined / on horrid arms, unheeded in the fane, / bound with a hundred brazen knots behind, / and grim with gory jaws, his grisly teeth shall grind."
Source: tatoeba (6786685)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "brethren"?
Closest matches include assembly, aunt, auntie, blood brother, brother.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "brethren"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.