as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
a novitiate in the rarefied world of international diplomacy, the recently appointed ambassador is treading cautiously
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Recent Examples of novitiate
The origin story of the evil spirit Valak from The Conjuring 2, The Nun stars Taissa Farmiga (sister of Vera) as Irene, a young novitiate and clairvoyant summoned to a convent to investigate a fellow nun’s suicide.
—
Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Already inquiries about becoming an Augustinian novitiate are up fivefold from last year.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 1 July 2025
Born and raised in Chicago, Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1981.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025
Braverman underwent three years of training after entering the novitiate, where she was surrounded by women of all ages, some also fresh out of high school and others who joined later in life.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
There was another case involving 2024’s Immaculate and The First Omen, and both films deal with two young American novitiates whose bodily autonomy is forcibly taken away in the most disturbing ways imaginable.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Already inquiries about becoming an Augustinian novitiate are up fivefold from last year.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 1 July 2025
Born and raised in Chicago, Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1981.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025
Braverman underwent three years of training after entering the novitiate, where she was surrounded by women of all ages, some also fresh out of high school and others who joined later in life.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
There was another case involving 2024’s Immaculate and The First Omen, and both films deal with two young American novitiates whose bodily autonomy is forcibly taken away in the most disturbing ways imaginable.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novitiate
Noun
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Instructors are on hand to teach novices.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
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For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On top of that, several apprentice dancers have been promoted, as have a few from CB2, Cincinnati Ballet’s second company.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
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Additionally, Brown, who has been tattooing for 20 years, is now training apprentices in his shop.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Pace put different people through the paces of different things on different equipment and surfaces, ranging from some beginner movements to some rather acrobatic moves by a woman visiting from South Korea that looked a lot like gymnastics.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Resembling a minnow near the surface of the water, these rental boats come with easy instructions for beginners who are unfamiliar with how to operate the canal’s lock system along the way.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The 1994 freshman class had 87 members — 73 Republicans against 14 Democrats.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The two met in freshman year in the dorms and quickly became inseparable.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Anderson’s ensemble—Regina Hall, Wood Harris, newcomer Chase Infiniti—signals scale and stakes.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
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More than just a coffee shop, Refuge has a workforce-development program to help newcomers get settled, connect with people, and learn skills to assist them in building new lives.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Take this season’s inaugural Coach campaign, in which the brand starred five rookies -– Paige Bueckers, Hailey Van Lith, Aneesah Morrow, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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While making a rookie wage of $390,000 with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson beat out veteran Matt Flynn, who had just signed for a free-agent guarantee of $10 million.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Novitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novitiate. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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