proselyte 1 of 2

Definition of proselytenext
as in recruit
a person who has recently been persuaded to join a religious sect an adult proselyte who had only recently been baptized

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proselyte

2 of 2

verb

as in to convert
to persuade to change to one's religious faith she's been trying to proselyte everyone in the office ever since she joined that church

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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 proselyte
Noun
Seneca went on to become a proselyte for the Stoic path, extolling its benefits in a long run of prose essays while also serving—in some eyes, dishonorably—as an adviser to Nero. James Romm, WSJ, 17 Dec. 2021 In order to understand this idea, the special relationship between God and the proselyte must be examined. Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 17 May 2021 Kitselman also became a proselyte for the history of Waterford, helping to create educational programming at the town’s Second Street School. Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2021 Christian Angermayer is an unlikely proselyte of psychedelia: The German financier didn’t drink so much as a sip of beer for the first three decades of his life. Meghana Keshavan, Scientific American, 9 July 2019 Enter proselytes in acetate eyeglasses and Rosie Pope workwear, drawn by listservs like Brooklynitos and Fort Greene Kids and BoCoCa Moms (BoCoCa being an acronym for three adjacent Brooklyn neighborhoods). Sonja Sharp, latimes.com, 27 June 2018 The authors observe that Yemeni Jews share elevated IBD with other Jewish populations, suggesting more than an indigenous proselyte origin for this community. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proselyte
Noun
  • Last season, on a team loaded with star players, Cornell recruit Ashley Watter didn’t even see the court for Aurora Central Catholic during the regional championship game.
    Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Sometani Shota stars as Sakai, a convenience store clerk who clocks in, recites the employee pledges, restocks the shelves, and feels nothing — until new recruit Ogawa (Erika Karata) arrives as one of several anomalies that send the store’s standardized operations spiraling toward bloody ends.
    Blake Simons, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers aim to convert laboratory results into practical design rules for manufacturers.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Soon another death at Lake Norman hospital Less than a month after Savage died, Heider operated on Lynnette York of Charlotte, to convert a gastric sleeve to a full bypass.
    Amber Gaudet Updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Then again, a good broker can be hard to find, especially for newcomers to private aviation.
    J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Gage Guerra and Chará notched assists on Mora's goal and newcomer Cole Bassett assisted on Antony's score.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Now in its 40th year, the foundation was established in honor of the eponymous chef who began his own culinary school, authored numerous cookbooks and proselytized cooking with whole foods.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • In that sense, this is an essential document, though Johnson is not proselytizing.
    Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Proselyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proselyte. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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