catechumen

noun

Definition of catechumennext
as in novice

Related Words

Relevance

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 catechumen But this Easter, the Archdiocese of Chicago marked a 52% increase of catechumens and candidates to join the Catholic Church versus 2025. — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catechumen
  1. novice
  2. newcomer
  3. recruit
  4. novitiate
Noun
  • Knowledgeable bartenders guide novices and obsessives alike, making an overwhelming list feel approachable rather than intimidating.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • With tastings, master classes, wine-and-food pairing seminars, conversations, concerts, and in several cases, auctions, wine festivals offer something for everyone from novice to expert.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 23 July 2026
Definition of novice
Noun
  • Incomplete back-shoulder slot fade to newcomer Jalen Reagor, who slowed down a bit either.
    — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Scorsese’s lawyers countersued, argued that Afram was a newcomer to the industry with unrealistic expectations.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of newcomer
Noun
  • Henderson was one of the first recruits the Cougars hosted under the new coaching staff.
    — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • Its recruit and redeploy stages require roles decomposed into explicit tasks—making what AI can augment answerable task by task.
    — Manu Khetan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of recruit
Noun
  • The novitiate, in this case, is Colin Smith (Harry Melling), a genial young man from the southeast London suburb of Bromley.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Community shapes people into better versions of themselves Schloegel remembers feeling anxious at the start of his novitiate, the period of living in community with other Augustinians before taking his vows.
    — Jason DeRose, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of novitiate

Browse Nearby Words

catechizing
catechumen
catechumens
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catechumen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catechumen. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on catechumen

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catechumen

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of comely

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All