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
Thanks to Poway/Ramona Stake Relief Society President Laura Sommer along with missionaries and elders of the church, RFCC volunteers, volunteers from Julian Congregation, Julian Methodist Church, Mountain Mana Food Pantry and Backcountries Communities Thriving.
—
Vesna Curry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Armstong was known to be kind to missionaries.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Global growth Joseph Smith founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in upstate New York in 1830 and immediately sent missionaries to preach along the frontier.
—Brittany Romanello, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
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
The missionaries arrived in 1820, and mosquitos not too long after in 1826.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Vesna Curry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Armstong was known to be kind to missionaries.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Global growth Joseph Smith founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in upstate New York in 1830 and immediately sent missionaries to preach along the frontier.
—Brittany Romanello, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
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
The missionaries arrived in 1820, and mosquitos not too long after in 1826.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionaries
Noun
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The official said the terrorist group attacked Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in Rafah.—
Greg Norman , Trey Yingst,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
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The concept even included plans for soldiers to parachute in, plant the bomb, and escape (hopefully).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The teachings of the two traditions align on many major issues, but the Catholic Church does not ordain women and generally does not allow priests to marry.—
Joshua McElwee,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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The state visit concluded with King Charles attending a reception at the Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionaries. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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