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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of missionary
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Italian Jesuit missionary Felipe Salvador Gilij, who lived along the Orinoco River in Venezuela in the mid-18th century, is considered the first to document Indigenous leaf-wrapping practices.
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Sophia Rey,
JSTOR Daily,
28 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
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.
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Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Italian Jesuit missionary Felipe Salvador Gilij, who lived along the Orinoco River in Venezuela in the mid-18th century, is considered the first to document Indigenous leaf-wrapping practices.
—
Sophia Rey,
JSTOR Daily,
28 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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In 1976, the residence was redesigned as a retirement home for church missioners.
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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.
Adjective
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Ciro de Luca/Pool via REUTERS Ciro de Luca / Pool via REUTERS Spanish media said the pope would speak later on Monday with victims at the Vatican embassy in Madrid, formally known as the apostolic nunciature.
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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.
Noun
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Mexico sent two Mexican Air Force transport planes carrying 261 personnel, including soldiers, air force members and National Guard troops, Reuters reported.
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National Guard soldiers and airmen will be tasked with crowd control, traffic management and security patrols.
Adjective
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Another condemned the preference shown for evangelical Christian translations of the Bible instead of a diversity of translations that are inclusive of many denominations.
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Among those in his group were evangelical Christians, some of whom are drawn by the belief that God promised the land of Israel to the Jews, who would rule it until the return of Jesus to Jerusalem for the rapture and to lead their ascent to Heaven.
Noun
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Watching from the crowd was Father Taras Naumenko, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, one of Tryzub's team chaplains and a passionate soccer goalie.
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Morelia is named after José María Morelos, a revolutionary priest and key leader of the Mexican War of Independence.
Noun
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In the 18th century, an Italian monk, Father Antonio Piaggio, invented a device to gently unroll the carbonized papyrus.
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The cordovan line revisited the brand’s shoemaking heritage with models that included derby shoes, loafers, monk straps and Chelsea boots.
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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