missionary 1 of 2

noun

Definition of missionarynext
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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missionary

2 of 2

adjective

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of missionary
Noun
Leo spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, holds Peruvian citizenship and is beloved by his flock there. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 William Catto brought his family north to Baltimore with plans to eventually travel to Liberia as missionaries. — Timothy Welbeck, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The backstory The hotel is named after Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá, who, along with Franciscan missionary Father Junípero Serra, incorporated the city of Monterey in 1770. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026 The story follows him through his missionary work, traveling with his wife Maria and good friend, Wang Laijun. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for missionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionary
  1. missioner
  2. apostolic
  3. soldier
  4. evangelical
  5. priest
  6. monk
Noun
  • In 1976, the residence was redesigned as a retirement home for church missioners.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of missioner
Adjective
  • Beyond his role within the church, the Pope is also a key international figure, frequently speaking out on high-profile topics such as artificial intelligence and immigration, and making apostolic journeys abroad.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of apostolic
Noun
  • This allows soldiers to retain the option of using an unexpended round as conventional mortar ammunition if it is not dropped or mission requirements change.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • MacPherson will play Dugan, a Special Forces soldier toughened by years of combat, joining the film’s two leads.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of soldier
Adjective
  • This is the goal of evangelical satanist band Satanic Planet.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Several people told me that Hamilton is from the more evangelical side of that spectrum.
    — Emma Green, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of evangelical
Noun
  • In an email sent to priests of the archdiocese on Saturday afternoon and shared with NPR, Archbishop Ronald Hicks also said the deal had not yet been signed but that an agreement had been reached with plaintiffs and their attorneys.
    — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Georgetown initiative focuses on descendants of slaves sold by Georgetown's Jesuit priests to slaveholders in Louisiana.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of priest
Noun
  • Ælfwig is a slightly stronger contender, according to the study, as he was known to have been a monk at Westminster before becoming abbot and may therefore have had a clearer connection to the church.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
  • According to legends that circulated in the Middle Ages, the Codex Gigas was created by a monk in Podlažice who sinned and was sentenced to death by immurement—live entombment in a walled enclosure.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of monk

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Cite this Entry

“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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