as in missioners
a person who is sent especially to a foreign country to do religious work (such as converting people to the religion or ministering to the sick)
The missionaries sent to the island were ultimately unsuccessful in converting the native residents.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 missionaries
To be sure, Grey’s novel is a literary protest against the mistreatment of American Indians by the federal government and Christian missionaries, and his original denouement is a little more complicated.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Now, the Franciscan missionaries oppressing the Native Americans in the painting had arrows piercing their heads and bodies.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in Japan in the 1500s wrote about both matcha and chanoyu.
—Rebecca Corbett, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
The missionaries arrived in 1820, and mosquitos not too long after in 1826.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Similarly, church members over the age of 40 can serve as senior missionaries, with lengths of service typically ranging from about one to two years.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Around that time, French Catholic missionaries realized that Yunnan provided ideal conditions (sunny days, cool evenings, high altitudes) for cultivating grape vines.
—Katie Chang, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Huntsville became a training ground for new Assemblies of God pastors and missionaries, and as those young ministers fanned out across Texas and the nation, many brought Savala’s teachings with them.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Now, the Franciscan missionaries oppressing the Native Americans in the painting had arrows piercing their heads and bodies.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in Japan in the 1500s wrote about both matcha and chanoyu.
—Rebecca Corbett, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
The missionaries arrived in 1820, and mosquitos not too long after in 1826.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Similarly, church members over the age of 40 can serve as senior missionaries, with lengths of service typically ranging from about one to two years.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Around that time, French Catholic missionaries realized that Yunnan provided ideal conditions (sunny days, cool evenings, high altitudes) for cultivating grape vines.
—Katie Chang, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
Huntsville became a training ground for new Assemblies of God pastors and missionaries, and as those young ministers fanned out across Texas and the nation, many brought Savala’s teachings with them.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionaries
Noun
-
Nail polish is not allowed for male soldiers, and clear polish is accepted for female soldiers.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The company is also pushing out battlefield-ready tools designed for everyday use by soldiers.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The diocese, meanwhile, continues to see high-profile abuse cases involving priests.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
O'Connor's Jud and Brolin's dueling priests are in the mix, but there are also a host of Wicks devotees.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionaries. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share