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
After the revolution, there was an explosion of missionaries from all sects to preach their version.
—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Scholars say 16th-century Catholic missionaries introduced Europe’s Grim Reaper figure to Mexico’s indigenous population, believing fear of death would instill a desire for salvation and convert them to Christianity.
—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Citizens turned away Already, two American doctors working as Christian missionaries in the DRC have been sent elsewhere for care.
—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Six close contacts, including fellow missionaries and his wife, have been relocated to Germany for monitoring.
—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Both Hicks and Leo grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and served as missionaries in Latin America and are fluent in Spanish.
—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Spanish missionaries first brought olives to Georgia in the mid-16th century, and 200 years later, olive trees were planted in the Trustees' Garden in Savannah, the first public agricultural experimental garden.
—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
11 May 2026
In the late eighteen-hundreds, American missionaries in Korea converted thousands of people.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Marco Polo’s Il milione gained widespread popularity among 13th- and 14th-century Europeans, and accounts from missionaries and explorers were published for audiences who often financed these voyages.
—
Suzanne Dundas,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Scholars say 16th-century Catholic missionaries introduced Europe’s Grim Reaper figure to Mexico’s indigenous population, believing fear of death would instill a desire for salvation and convert them to Christianity.
—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Citizens turned away Already, two American doctors working as Christian missionaries in the DRC have been sent elsewhere for care.
—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Six close contacts, including fellow missionaries and his wife, have been relocated to Germany for monitoring.
—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Both Hicks and Leo grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and served as missionaries in Latin America and are fluent in Spanish.
—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Spanish missionaries first brought olives to Georgia in the mid-16th century, and 200 years later, olive trees were planted in the Trustees' Garden in Savannah, the first public agricultural experimental garden.
—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
11 May 2026
In the late eighteen-hundreds, American missionaries in Korea converted thousands of people.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Marco Polo’s Il milione gained widespread popularity among 13th- and 14th-century Europeans, and accounts from missionaries and explorers were published for audiences who often financed these voyages.
—
Suzanne Dundas,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionaries
Noun
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In 1976, the residence was redesigned as a retirement home for church missioners.
Noun
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The remains of two Army soldiers who went missing while off duty from military exercises in Morocco were recovered in May, according to the Army.
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The soldiers went missing on May 2 near the Cap Draa Training Area near the city of Tan Tan in southwestern Morocco, USA TODAY previously reported.
Noun
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Survivors have fought for a full public account of priests, with San Francisco the only diocese in the state that has not released such a list of clergy abuse offenders.
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More than 680 priests served in the diocese during the 75 years covered in the investigation.
Noun
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Two monks sustained serious injuries, and one monk lost part of his leg as a result of the crash.
Cite this Entry
“Missionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionaries. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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