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
Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Korean Messiah follows not only the family that rose to absolute power in Pyongyang, but also an American Presbyterian missionary who built a fervent following in the early 19th century.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Bright Simons, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
The Ellinikon Marina, also named Agios Kosmas in honor of 18th-century monk and missionary Saint Kosmas, will help cement the ancient city as one of Europe’s premier yachting destinations.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Noun
The missionaries had hoped to bring Christianity to the Waorani, which was an isolated tribe that fiercely defended their territory at that time.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Korean Messiah follows not only the family that rose to absolute power in Pyongyang, but also an American Presbyterian missionary who built a fervent following in the early 19th century.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Aid now flows according to a worldview that is part-mercantilist, part-missionary, and wholly transactional.
—Bright Simons, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
The Ellinikon Marina, also named Agios Kosmas in honor of 18th-century monk and missionary Saint Kosmas, will help cement the ancient city as one of Europe’s premier yachting destinations.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025
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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The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
18 Dec. 2025
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Pope Leo at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa on Monday, the second day of his apostolic visit to Lebanon.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Lockheed Martin revealed that the NGSRI offering is being developed as a 21st Century Security solution that meets all soldier safety and performance needs.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Jan. 2026
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An old photograph from the 1940s had resurfaced, showing the home with the porch intact and a soldier seated on the front steps.—
Gina Mayfield,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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King’s recites the Nicene Creed weekly, rare among evangelical churches.—
Tara Palmeri,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
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Helen’s evangelical Christianity, Kim’s Muslim heritage, and the religious traditions of the Indigenous people whom Kim is studying.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There is a priest; there is the Word, a term used in Christianity to refer to Christ and to Holy Scripture; there is God, whom the priest calls love; there is a baby and a cross, bookending the life of Christ.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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Estelle is forced into relentless negotiations to save the lives of inmates and prison personnel including the prison’s priest (Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus) and librarian (Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus).—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Now on its 67th day and passing through metro Atlanta, the group's schedule included reflections from a metro Atlanta monk originally part of the journey.—
Nakell Williams,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
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He had been dressed as a monk for Halloween weekend, with a hooded robe, but Rachel Kelly said he was found shirtless in his sweatpants.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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