as in missioner
a person who is sent especially to a foreign country to do religious work (such as converting people to the religion or ministering to the sick)
The missionaries sent to the island were ultimately unsuccessful in converting the native residents.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in apostolic
relating to missionaries or their work
The church organizes missionary trips to a variety of countries.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of missionary
John Hall, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
He was devastated when his son ditched medical school after being indoctrinated into his church and was inspired to become a missionary.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2025
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
Popes also refocused their efforts on missionary activity.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Noun
Learn to Spot Missionaries vs. Missionaries Over a decade ago, Jeff Bezos (probably) coined the distinction between missionaries and mercenaries in the workplace.
—John Hall, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
He was devastated when his son ditched medical school after being indoctrinated into his church and was inspired to become a missionary.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The annual trips to Guatemala started when a couple of members of the church joined other churches in traveling there for missionary work in the 1980s.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
Popes also refocused their efforts on missionary activity.
—Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionary
Noun
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Kelley Hudlow, missioner for clergy formation for the diocese, told NBC affiliate WVTM of Birmingham soon after the shooting that church leaders were trying to learn more.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
17 June 2022
-
Eby will continue to serve as outreach missioner at the Church of the Nativity and as priest-in-charge at St. Timothy’s Church in Athens.—
al,
al,
1 Dec. 2020
Adjective
-
In 2018, on her 110th birthday, Lucas, who is also the oldest living nun in the world, was honored with an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis, per Guinness World Records.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
7 Jan. 2025
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Pope Francis's stop in East Timor is part of his ongoing apostolic journey across four countries between Sept. 2 and Sept. 13.—
Timothy H.J. Nerozzi Fox News,
Fox News,
10 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
So, there is a sense that London is dangerous and that all the soldiers have just returned and brought their guns with them.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Carleton argues that Russell and Tolstoy’s focus on the plight of the individual soldier amid the horror and senselessness of war shaped the public perception of later quagmires, such as World War I and the Vietnam War.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Costa interviews eminent subjects on both sides of the ideological divide, including current president Lula, former president Bolsonaro, and evangelical minister (and Bolsonaro ally) Silas Malafaia.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The past decade of partisan politics has badly fractured the evangelical world.—
Emma Green,
The New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Within the faith there’s no real hierarchy; there are no popes, priests or clergy.—
Peter Kiefer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Feb. 2025
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In an interview with Vatican News, the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family, the only Roman Catholic church in Gaza, says Pope Francis has called from the hospital at 8 p.m. Gaza time every night.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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He is called upon by a monk from a secretive temple to protect a powerful child from a corrupt master, forcing him to confront his inner demons.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2025
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Listen to this article San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas talks in calm and hushed tones, referencing Eastern philosophers ranging from the Dalai Lama to Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh.—
Bryce Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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