messianic

adjective

mes·​si·​an·​ic ˌme-sē-ˈa-nik How to pronounce messianic (audio)
1
: of or relating to a messiah
this messianic kingdom
2
: marked by idealism and an aggressive crusading spirit
messianic zeal
on a messianic mission

Examples of messianic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Trump’s messianic appeal may seem like a twenty-first-century creation, a product of partisan rage, epistemic drift, and American-style evangelicalism. Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 17 May 2025 Our hero’s bitterness at the state of the world varies in this film from the vaguely messianic to the satisfyingly cathartic. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2025 Not acting like an ally But this ultranationalist, messianic Israeli government is not America’s ally. Thomas Friedman, Mercury News, 11 May 2025 Adopting a messianic persona, Rollins recruited AOP and Murphy (with Austin Theory briefly involved). Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for messianic

Word History

Etymology

probably from French messianique, from messianisme

First Known Use

circa 1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of messianic was circa 1794

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Messianic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messianic. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on messianic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!