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

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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

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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
  • One month before the Pentagon announced its first equity stake in a company, its top lawyer asked the White House to explain why the deal wouldn’t break the law.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Alaska voters will once again be asked to decide whether to keep or scrap their election method this fall.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Brittin has spent his early months in the job interrogating whether the broadcaster’s output is properly meeting audience needs and is said to be clear-eyed about shifting resources away from services that are dwindling in influence.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The previous investigations were stalled because Haitian judges kept resigning from the case, fearing for their lives, and gangs seized control of the downtown Port-au-Prince courthouse where the judges were interrogating suspects.
    — EVENS SANON, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Three people associated with the box truck were initially detained and taken to DeLand Police headquarters for questioning but were later released and not charged, the release stated.
    — Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That victory made the Myanmar native a champion questioned by some, but Van legitimized his reign by prevailing in a grueling battle against Tatsuro Taira last May, stopping his challenger in the final round.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The team measured 13 rare earth elements, including cerium, ytterbium and lanthanum, and examined whether exposure was associated with birth outcomes.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • That will require disciplined budgeting, responsible oversight and a School Board willing to examine where every dollar is being spent and prioritize the people working directly with our students.
    — Roberto Fernandez III, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Catechize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catechize. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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