Christianize

verb

Chris·​tian·​ize ˈkris-chə-ˌnīz How to pronounce Christianize (audio)
ˈkrish-
Christianized; Christianizing
Christianization noun

Examples of Christianize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most of the dances were originally introduced by the missionaries to Christianize the Indigenous peoples, but the spectacles performed in front of thousands at the Basilica were a symbol of tradition of the relationship between the pueblos and La Morenita. Chantal Flores, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023 These are not attempts to Christianize the public sphere. Charles McCrary, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023 The doc explains how guns were confiscated and buffalo killed to force Natives into a European-style farming system, how Indigenous religions were outlawed and children sent away to be Christianized in cruel boarding schools. Peter Debruge, Variety, 21 July 2023 Looking to Christianize the holiday, the Catholic Church tied it to Saint Valentine. Joe Difazio, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2023 Native American and Alaskan Native children were regularly severed from their tribal families, customs, language and religion and brought to the schools in a push to assimilate and Christianize them. Peter Smith, chicagotribune.com, 22 July 2021 Native American and Alaskan Native children were regularly severed from their tribal families, customs, language, and religion and taken to the schools in a push to assimilate and Christianize them. BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2021 Native American and Alaska Native children were regularly severed from their tribal families, customs, language and religion and brought to the schools in a push to assimilate and Christianize them. Anchorage Daily News, 22 July 2021 Replacing the statue of Marcus Whitman, an inept Protestant missionary who tried to Christianize the natives (as Whitman might have put it), with a leader of the Nisqually tribe who was arrested more than 50 times for practicing his treaty rights to fish for salmon is a karmic boomerang. Arkansas Online, 2 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Christianize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Christianize was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near Christianize

Cite this Entry

“Christianize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christianize. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Christianize

verb
Chris·​tian·​ize ˈkris-chə-ˌnīz How to pronounce Christianize (audio)
ˈkrish-
Christianized; Christianizing
: to make Christian
Christianization noun
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