as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
a novitiate in the rarefied world of international diplomacy, the recently appointed ambassador is treading cautiously
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Recent Examples of novitiate
There was another case involving 2024’s Immaculate and The First Omen, and both films deal with two young American novitiates whose bodily autonomy is forcibly taken away in the most disturbing ways imaginable.
—
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
In a retreat focused on the Virgin Mary held one month before the group was to enter the novitiate, the Mistress of Postulants told them that the 10 months of the postulancy are like the months of pregnancy—that the postulants were, in a very real spiritual sense, gestating Jesus in their wombs.
—Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 1 June 2023
In 2011, Strassburger entered the Jesuit novitiate in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
—Jack Herrera, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2024
Nell Tiger Free stars as a young American novitiate at an Italian orphanage who becomes embroiled in a rogue Catholic Church conspiracy to birth the antichrist.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
Set in the early 1970s, the story revolves around Margaret (an impressive Nell Tiger Free, Servant), a young novitiate sent by the Church to Rome to work at an orphanage.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Playing a nurse named Ann who lives next door to distraught widowed father Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), Dowd is given a clunky backstory as a one-time novitiate nun, who abandoned plans to join the convent after breaking her commitment.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Victor’s neighbor, Ann (Ann Dowd), a nurse and former novitiate, enlists a priest, Father Maddox (E.J. Bonilla), to perform an exorcism on the girls.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
The origin story of the evil spirit Valak from The Conjuring 2, The Nun stars Taissa Farmiga (sister of Vera) as Irene, a young novitiate and clairvoyant summoned to a convent to investigate a fellow nun’s suicide.
—Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
In a retreat focused on the Virgin Mary held one month before the group was to enter the novitiate, the Mistress of Postulants told them that the 10 months of the postulancy are like the months of pregnancy—that the postulants were, in a very real spiritual sense, gestating Jesus in their wombs.
—Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 1 June 2023
In 2011, Strassburger entered the Jesuit novitiate in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
—Jack Herrera, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2024
Nell Tiger Free stars as a young American novitiate at an Italian orphanage who becomes embroiled in a rogue Catholic Church conspiracy to birth the antichrist.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
Set in the early 1970s, the story revolves around Margaret (an impressive Nell Tiger Free, Servant), a young novitiate sent by the Church to Rome to work at an orphanage.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Playing a nurse named Ann who lives next door to distraught widowed father Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), Dowd is given a clunky backstory as a one-time novitiate nun, who abandoned plans to join the convent after breaking her commitment.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Victor’s neighbor, Ann (Ann Dowd), a nurse and former novitiate, enlists a priest, Father Maddox (E.J. Bonilla), to perform an exorcism on the girls.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
The origin story of the evil spirit Valak from The Conjuring 2, The Nun stars Taissa Farmiga (sister of Vera) as Irene, a young novitiate and clairvoyant summoned to a convent to investigate a fellow nun’s suicide.
—Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novitiate
Noun
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Just kind of a handful or random observations with nothing that even the most novice player doesn't already know.—
Gene McCaffrey,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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The fights, without a doubt, grabbed the attention of novice fans everywhere, but not everyone was a fan of it.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Santiago, an apprentice at a barber school, is due back in court on March 10.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
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Theodoros, the antique shop owner, is desperately seeking an apprentice to help authenticate items... Gift of Odyssey — Log in every day during the event to obtain check-in rewards.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The gently rolling slopes of Elk Camp Meadows are perfect for beginners, with magic carpets for the little ones still figuring out their ski legs.—
Caroline Tell,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Some of the easiest orchids for beginners are phalenopsis, paphiopedilum, epidendron, oncidium and cattleya.—
Dawn Pettinelli,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article BLOOMINGTON — When Nico Ronchetti arrived at Joliet Catholic as a freshman in 2021, the school had never won a state trophy in wrestling.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
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The redshirt freshman has been a consistent bright spot since entering the starting lineup in December, and he’s really rounded into form over the last month.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Naturally, that’s the unranked newcomer, Akio (Scott Keiji Takeda): an 18-year-old from a troubled background who, though small by sumo standards, has dreamed of becoming a wrestler since childhood.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2025
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Brunson has since earned the nod twice, this time as a starter in the 2024-25 season alongside newcomer Karl-Anthony Towns.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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UConn’s Ashlynn Shade was the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2024 after winning the weekly honor six times, and Strong’s rookie season has been even more dominant.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
6 Mar. 2025
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He was traded two years later as a minor leaguer for Jonathan Papelbon, made 24 starts as a rookie in 2017 (6.07 ERA) and had a 5.50 ERA in four years with the Phillies when he was traded in August 2020 to Boston for Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Novitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novitiate. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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