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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The missionaries helped build important institutions – schools, colleges, hospitals and medical schools – in Persia, many of which still exist.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
Aquila hopes that his community has found a deeper love of Christ and the sacraments through his service and an understanding of the importance of being missionary disciples.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Noun
They were followed in 1527 by Dominican missionaries, and eight years later a Portuguese port and trading center were established at Faifo (modern Hoi An), south of present-day Da Nang.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The missionaries helped build important institutions – schools, colleges, hospitals and medical schools – in Persia, many of which still exist.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
While Quebec's largest city was first founded as a missionary center rather than a fur-trading post, as was the case with several other Canadian cities, the proceeding centuries have seen Montreal more than make up for its nonmaterialist origins.
—Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
Aquila hopes that his community has found a deeper love of Christ and the sacraments through his service and an understanding of the importance of being missionary disciples.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 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
-
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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Kast and his wife are part of Schoenstatt, a Catholic apostolic movement devoted to the Virgin Mary.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Like his apostolic namesake, Thomas believes unquestioningly in the evidence of his senses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Australian law defines war crime murder as the intentional killing in a context of armed conflict of a person who is not taking an active part in the hostilities, such as a civilian, prisoner of war or a wounded soldier.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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But Israel's military told them explicitly not to, and Lebanese army vehicles were still blocking the path to some southern areas on Friday, the BBC reported, including the entrance to Khiam, which is still occupied by Israeli soldiers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike Barnes, who was born and raised Catholic, Imam had found his way to Catholicism later, after growing up in an interfaith household, with a Palestinian Muslim father and an evangelical mother.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Horrified reactions followed from prominent conservative evangelical voices, and that post was deleted.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The parents stressed their problem was with this priest, not with their religion.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In Colina, Chile, pilgrims on horseback took part in the Quasimodo Feast, a procession held the Sunday following Easter, accompanying priests giving communion to the poor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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So in February, the university, collaborating with tech ventures Teraverse and XNOVA, unveiled Buddharoid, a humanoid robot monk meant to eventually assist clergy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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The bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha was finished in 1997 and is located in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China, in a sacred scenic area said to have been established by the 7th-century monk Xuanzang.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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