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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But both the novice and the veteran responded to Trump’s threats with grace and finesse.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2025
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The skaters were part of the National Development Team, a training program for top juvenile, intermediate and novice figure skaters.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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An expansion planned by Wright but completed after his death by Taliesin apprentices John Howe and William Wesley Peters was tacked on in 1961, adding laundry and family rooms to the house and a greenhouse to the grounds.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
16 Jan. 2025
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Mentoring has become routine in many industries, reminiscent of the old apprentice model where the mentee watches the expert at work and learns firsthand through example and discussion.—
Gregory Crawford,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For those of you who are beginners: The NFL consists of 32 teams split into two conferences — the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) — with four divisions in each (North, South, East and West).—
Eduardo Tansley,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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The store also hosts events, from beginner D&D sessions to Yu-Gi-Oh! weekly tournaments.—
Steph Solis,
Axios,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As far as newcomers are concerned, the Bears have a pair of unrelated freshmen ready to make an impact.—
Sam Lane,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Feb. 2025
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The Broncos signed three incoming freshmen and two college transfers Wednesday, in addition to the 28 athletes who had already signed a national letter of intent, indicating their commitment to play for Boise State.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In the main roles are newcomers Elli-Sara Valkeapää as Ejva, Andte Jusso Gaup as Heaika, and Vincent Niia as Nejla.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
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The cast, made up entirely of performers from the Twin Cities, includes a mixture of newcomers and Chanhassen favorites.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The team had drafted a slew of strong, young defensive talent in the last few years, and added a pair of rookies—defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell—this year who played key roles flummoxing Mahomes on Sunday.—
Sean Gregory,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
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Second unit Mosley relied on five reserves: Anthony Black, rookie Tristan da Silva, Gary Harris, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jonathan Isaac.—
Jason Beede,
Orlando Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near novitiate
Cite this Entry
“Novitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novitiate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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