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
TIME, 25 Nov. 2024
Africa was mentioned frequently on TBN, but almost exclusively as a destination for white American missionaries.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2024
USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Her experience includes missionary work in Mozambique and serving as her order's superior from 2011 to 2023.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for missionary 
Noun
By the late 1870s, the federal government shifted its tactics from primarily outsourcing teaching Native people to missionaries, to running its own schools.
—TIME, 25 Nov. 2024
Africa was mentioned frequently on TBN, but almost exclusively as a destination for white American missionaries.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Republican Michele Morrow is a former missionary and homeschool curriculum developer and nurse who is running against Democrat Maurice (Mo) Green, a previous superintendent of Guilford County Schools and general counsel and deputy superintendent for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
—USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Her experience includes missionary work in Mozambique and serving as her order's superior from 2011 to 2023.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 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
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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
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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
-
The Army identified the soldiers killed in the crash as Staff Sgt.—
Katie Smith,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The camera keeps tight on Dragan as the heavily armed soldiers approach the compartment containing him, the Muslim man and several other passengers.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Judson University, a nonprofit evangelical Christian school founded as Judson College in 1963, is named after American Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson, who became the first Protestant missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma, the school’s website said.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
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The president received the backing of about eight out of 10 white evangelical Christian voters in the 2024 election, according to an AP VoteCast analysis.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Bruce French, the dependable character actor who did lots of work for the theater and portrayed Father Lonigan, the blind priest on the soap opera Passions who somehow could sense that evil was imminent, has died.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Feb. 2025
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In a video message posted in December updating the Catholic Diocese of Joliet’s restructuring plan, Bishop Ron Hicks cited declining Mass attendance, smaller Sunday collections and a shortage of active parish priests in forcing tough decisions.—
Paul Eisenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The devil will persist in bothering Martin Luther until the bald-headed monk dispatches him by hurling a bottle of ink.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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The monks do as recommended, practicing loving-kindness meditation for several weeks.—
Jeremy David Engels,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near missionary
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
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