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
  • That gave me the ability to go back and interrogate the data for myself, starting from a blank‑slate posture known as beginner’s mind.
    Alec Litowitz, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
  • London’s Serpentine gallery is now inviting artists to interrogate these questions.
    Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 15 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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