as in missioner
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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as in apostolic
relating to missionaries or their work
The church organizes missionary trips to a variety of countries.
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Recent Examples of missionary
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 May 2026
In a video message, Rubio discussed the faith of American revolutionaries and the role of Christian missionaries who aimed to spread the Gospel through the country's western expansion.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 20 May 2026
Christian missionary narratives In later centuries, these anti-Muslim depictions were reworked to justify colonialism.
—Anna Piela, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Noun
An American missionary was among those who tested positive for the deadly disease.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 May 2026
In a video message, Rubio discussed the faith of American revolutionaries and the role of Christian missionaries who aimed to spread the Gospel through the country's western expansion.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Adjective
His colleague, Matt Allison -- the executive director of Serge, the Christian missionary group Stafford works for -- told ABC News that the doctor has been receiving monoclonal antibodies during his hospitalization.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 20 May 2026
Christian missionary narratives In later centuries, these anti-Muslim depictions were reworked to justify colonialism.
—Anna Piela, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionary
Noun
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Kelley Hudlow, missioner for clergy formation for the diocese, told NBC affiliate WVTM of Birmingham soon after the shooting that church leaders were trying to learn more.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
17 June 2022
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Eby will continue to serve as outreach missioner at the Church of the Nativity and as priest-in-charge at St. Timothy’s Church in Athens.—
al,
al,
1 Dec. 2020
Adjective
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On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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The leader of the Roman Catholic Church directed his remarks to university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, during an 11-day apostolic journey in Africa.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Last month, senior Moscow officials attended the inauguration of a war memorial complex in Pyongyang, where soldiers fighting for Russia were honored and a message from Putin was read aloud.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Participants in that event included such Washington figures as Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio and Mike Johnson as well as Christian leaders like Franklin Graham and other prominent evangelical figures.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
28 May 2026
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The move gives Jones another stamp of approval from a grassroots conservative network with deep ties to evangelical circles and a close alliance with Kemp.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
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The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, DC, has removed a priest as an exorcist and cut ties with the priest's nonprofit organization over comments the priest made about UFOs and demons.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Monsignor Stephen Rossetti is a priest and psychologist who has heldprominent positions in the Archdiocese of Washington for decades.—
Michelle Boorstein,
Washington Post,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Hosted by global best-selling author, award-winning storyteller, former monk and Chief Purpose Officer of Calm Jay Shetty, On Purpose With Jay Shetty brings fascinating conversations with some of the most insightful people in the world, with the mission to help others find purpose.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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The work draws on earlier sources, including the 7th-century text Records of the Western Regions, which documents the travels of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang during his 16-year journey to India in search of sacred texts.—
Frannie Comstock,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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