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
Visiting missionaries fill tribal members’ gas tanks and replace their sagging roofs. — Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Dondo Iorlamen, the international director of CAPRO, believes Africa is well-positioned to send missionaries because Christianity is growing stronger there. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The story follows him through his missionary work, traveling with his wife Maria and good friend, Wang Laijun. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 20 July 2026 The discovery of Iron Ore in Minnesota sprung mining towns during his missionary efforts in the region. — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of apostolic
Noun
  • But what chance would American soldiers have against a country whose military doctrine has already imagined active resistance in populated areas, backed by citizens who could potentially provide intelligence, surveillance and other forms of support?
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Not so for Cal, who meets soldier Olivier during the Napoleonic Wars and creates a paradox to keep him from dying on the battlefield… only for Olivier to disappear from the timeline entirely.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of soldier
Adjective
  • In his 20s, Gortner became disillusioned with the evangelical movement and became an aspiring actor in New York.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The accusation tapped into Catholics’ fears over losing ground to evangelicals and could weaken the presidential bid of Bolsonaro, who is evangelical.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of evangelical
Noun
  • In the foreground of the painting rises a lone umbrella pine; at its base are the tiny figures of a priest and a young girl.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Trending Video At the time, Frederick and his husband, William, a priest, were living in church housing.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of priest
Noun
  • Seekers, meanwhile, runs to six parts and follows the human experience through the eyes of an Amazonian chief, an Advaita monk, an African healer, a Hindu sage, a Native grandmother and a Buddhist psychologist.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Brazilian artist and former Carmelite monk Rodrigo Cassdied at 43 in a fatal accident yesterday on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, his gallery Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel stated on social media.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 2026.

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