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
Relevance
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
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 missionary
Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025
Jeong and his wife came to the United States as missionaries from South Korea 11 years ago, starting their first church in a two-bedroom apartment while struggling to make ends meet.
—Graeme Taskerud, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025
Brad Pearce, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
This year’s theme is A Heart for the Harvest and will feature four missionary families representing Namibia, Portugal, South Africa and South Sudan.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Noun
Religion gameplay needs attention, as there’s no way to stop other leaders’ missionaries, leading to unsatisfying back-and-forth conversion gameplay.
—Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025
Jeong and his wife came to the United States as missionaries from South Korea 11 years ago, starting their first church in a two-bedroom apartment while struggling to make ends meet.
—Graeme Taskerud, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Upon completing college, Baumgartner turned down a job offer at an investment bank in Seattle, instead choosing to spend time doing Catholic missionary work in Mozambique.
—Brad Pearce, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
This year’s theme is A Heart for the Harvest and will feature four missionary families representing Namibia, Portugal, South Africa and South Sudan.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionary
Noun
-
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
-
What People Are Saying Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, led Wednesday night's gathering, urging the faithful to pray for the pope's swift return to his apostolic mission.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Video shared on social media shows one soldier donning an Arizona Wildcat flag descending rapidly before rolling over upon impact.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Canned goods and other non-perishables had to be sent to our soldiers who were fighting for our freedom.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Could an evangelical school like Wheaton College be compelled to appoint an atheist to its faculty?—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
From this perspective, an attack on empathy is inevitable, especially among the evangelical subculture most susceptible to Christian nationalist propaganda.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Again, Two Spears deduces the facts — that the priest must have killed the girl’s father before the girl killed the priest in self-defense.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2025
-
After taking a couple episodes to establish its premise, there’s a procedural rhythm to Hub’s hunting expeditions, tracking targets from a possessed priest to a Satanic cheerleader.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While appearing on Live with Kelly and Mark on Monday, April 7, the 37-year-old podcast host and former Hindu monk discussed his most recent gig as a wedding officiant — because there's been more than one! — with Hudgens, 36, and Tucker, 28.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Now people see black horses with fiery eyes, monks high in the tree tops.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share