Definition of catechizenext
1
as in to ask
to put a question or questions to her roommates catechized her about every detail of her first day at her new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to interrogate
to put a series of questions to applicants are rigorously catechized by the seminary's rector regarding their motives for joining the priesthood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of catechize Priests could not catechize children, bring the sacraments to the sick, or do pastoral work outside the local churchyard. George Weigel, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catechize
Verb
  • The congresswoman asked lawmakers to assess the situation and develop a repatriation plan by the end of the day on May 7.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • The debate was sponsored by The Denver Post, Denver7 and Colorado Public Radio, and the first question asked Bennet and Weiser to identify a policy position that separated them.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Just as the Greens and their families interview their matches, the Eyes turn up unannounced at the Aunt Lydia School to interrogate the Pearl Girls, which means Weston is pulling double-duty.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
  • Goldman advises hyperscalers, underwrites chip company offerings, and sits at the table with the companies building the very infrastructure Covello was interrogating.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Araghchi questioned whether the latest military exchange was meant to pressure Iran into a peace deal or the result of someone persuading the president of the United States (POTUS) to extend the conflict.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 May 2026
  • Some have questioned whether the Biennale really is a nonpartisan exhibition, pointing to the show’s history of making political statements, including in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Like last year, there was a long list of criteria the PWHL examined when deciding where to expand this season, including market size, fan support, infrastructure and what kind of economic opportunity exists in the market, among other factors.
    Max Bultman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
  • The Moroccan navy released video Wednesday showing military divers examining caves, aircraft scanning the ocean surface and teams of uniformed personnel and canine crews combing the rocky shoreline.
    Akram Oubachir, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catechize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catechize. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster