Definition of PROSELYTIZING

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Proselytize comes from the noun proselyte (meaning "a new convert"), which comes from the Late Latin noun proselytus. Proselytus means "stranger" or "alien resident," and comes from a similar Greek word (prosēlytos). When proselytize entered English in the 17th century, it had a distinctly religious connotation and meant simply "to recruit religious converts." This meaning is still common, but today one can also proselytize in a broader sense - recruiting converts to one's political party or pet cause, for example.

Examples of proselytize in a Sentence

They are a sport-shirted, discomforted lot, pacing, puffing feverishly on cigarettes, perspiring freely and proselytizing furiously. — Nicholas Dawidoff, Sports Illustrated, 19 Aug. 1991 His prodigious correspondence with twenty-five hundred scientists, politicians, and men of letters … proselytized for his new science of statistics. — Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983 He uses his position to proselytize for the causes that he supports. the efforts of early missionaries to proselytize the Native Americans of Minnesota were largely unproductive

Recent Examples on the Web And while fellow cannabis converts and devotees are the film’s focus, Avallone — also the accomplished editor — succeeds at not proselytizing but rather humanizing the issue. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, "Review: A father fights for the life of his son in the documentary ‘Waldo on Weed’," 8 Apr. 2020 But the group's history of proselytizing while providing relief in places like El Salvador in 2001 says otherwise. — refinery29.com, "Is This Central Park Field Hospital Being Run By A Hate Group?," 1 Apr. 2020 In Marx and Engels's view, the phrase is used to proselytize worldwide class conflict. — Anthony Leonardi, Washington Examiner, "'Workers of the world unite': American Factory director echoes Communist Manifesto rallying cry after Oscars win," 9 Feb. 2020 There remains no better place for Brady to compete for championships, continue to play in an offense tailored to him like a bespoke suit, and proselytize the TB12 Method to the masses than Patriot Place. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "Why Bill Belichick and Tom Brady should stick together," 3 Feb. 2020 Its outsize role recalls the Church’s secular power — and decidedly mixed legacy — in Latin America’s colonial era, when proselytizing spread deadly germs along with education. — Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, "Do-gooder or ‘Devil’? A Friar’s Work Divides a Venezuelan Village," 3 Jan. 2020 But that didn't stop him from continuing to proselytize against vaccines or prevent vaccine opponents from embracing his study. — Douglas Starr, Science | AAAS, "This Italian scientist has become a celebrity by fighting vaccine skeptics," 2 Jan. 2020 Hyde has been as steadfast as Elias in adhering to and proselytizing for the team’s intentions and goals in this rebuild, and despite moves that will make his job more difficult every day of the season, that’s likely to continue. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Five things to watch as the Orioles begin their business at baseball’s winter meetings," 9 Dec. 2019 Most who encounter the movement’s followers have seen them proselytizing and provoking arguments with passersby in places like Times Square in New York. — Michael Kunzelman, Anchorage Daily News, "New Jersey attackers linked to anti-Semitic fringe movement," 13 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proselytize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.