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.
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Recent Examples of missionaries
The story of two mismatched missionaries spreading the gospel won nine Tony Awards in 2011, including for best musical.
—
Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Muslim traders and missionaries began traveling to Hausa lands in the twelfth century, and much of the society gradually converted to Islam.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Muslim traders and missionaries began traveling to Hausa lands in the twelfth century, and much of the society gradually converted to Islam.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionaries
Noun
-
The Tambov, Krasnodar, Kurgan and Altai regions, and the republic of Tatarstan, also announced significant increases in the payments, which come on top of the monthly salary for contract soldiers fighting in Ukraine.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
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On his journey, Geralt slices up several soldiers, a giant, ogre-like creature and a ghostly wraith.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Many African Anglican churches refuse to ordain female priests.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
During his presidency, the church modified its policy to prohibit transgender people from being baptized, working with children or serving as priests or teachers, per the AP.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionaries. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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