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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in apostolic
relating to missionaries or their work
The church organizes missionary trips to a variety of countries.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
Similarly, church members over the age of 40 can serve as senior missionaries, with lengths of service typically ranging from about one to two years.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
After some years of growing differences with Higher Ground Education’s board and lead investors, in 2025, Ray left the organization to pursue his missionary work on his own terms once again.
—Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Noun
As cinematic tapestry, Mitevska’s cloistered film does feel cut from the cloth of Calcutta in 1948 and from the Catholic missionary work one attributes to that time.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
Similarly, church members over the age of 40 can serve as senior missionaries, with lengths of service typically ranging from about one to two years.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The college is also expanding its degree in missionary aviation technology at its Spokane, Washington, campus.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
After some years of growing differences with Higher Ground Education’s board and lead investors, in 2025, Ray left the organization to pursue his missionary work on his own terms once again.
—Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for missionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionary
Noun
-
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
-
View Comments The Friday event, which took place inside the Vatican’s apostolic palace, included a roundtable discussion on AI ethics and governance.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
-
The Friday event, which took place inside the Vatican’s apostolic palace, included a roundtable discussion on AI ethics and governance.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The Guard may have worn out its welcome, but soldiers were still assigned to the region.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Netzah Yehuda Battalion, formerly Nahal Haredi, enables Haredi men to serve as combat soldiers while observing strict religious practices.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
After all, if words are the weapons of oppression, then isn’t an evangelical Republican giving a speech just an armed and dangerous enemy?—
Michael Graham,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The largest religious traditions in America today are evangelical Protestant Christianity and the Catholic Church.—
Ryan Burge,
The Conversation,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Catholic priest Maximilian Kolbe (Polish actor Marcin Kwaśny) volunteers to die in place of another prisoner, joining nine others condemned by the Nazis, and urges hope and resistance through faith inside the suffocating cell.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The diocese, meanwhile, continues to see high-profile abuse cases involving priests.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Guests can access the trail, meditate with the resident Buddhist monk, go whitewater rafting on the Mo Chhu river, and visit the picturesque Punakha Dzong, a centuries-old fortress.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Balenciaga was like a monk and never left his monastery.—
James Fallon,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Missionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionary. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share