missionaries

noun

plural of missionary
as in missioners
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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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 missionaries Once inside a world, the missionaries split up and seek out small groups chatting in quieter corners. — Fiona Murphy, NPR, 2 July 2026 The best business owners are missionaries and mercenaries at the very same time. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 After the revolution, there was an explosion of missionaries from all sects to preach their version. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 11 June 2026 Hawaii has a long and complex history, from its Indigenous roots and royal monarchy to the arrival of missionaries and Western influence. — Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026 Both Hicks and Leo grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and served as missionaries in Latin America and are fluent in Spanish. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 Citizens turned away Already, two American doctors working as Christian missionaries in the DRC have been sent elsewhere for care. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026 Another stand-out category is Hawaiian quilts, which the expert says tend to feature large, bold floral designs and reflect traditional Hawaiian aesthetics that were adapted after quilting was introduced by missionaries. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2026 Scholars say 16th-century Catholic missionaries introduced Europe’s Grim Reaper figure to Mexico’s indigenous population, believing fear of death would instill a desire for salvation and convert them to Christianity. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missionaries
  1. missioners
  2. soldiers
  3. priests
  4. monks
Noun
  • In 1976, the residence was redesigned as a retirement home for church missioners.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
Definition of missioners
Noun
  • In a victory march across the makeshift bridge, the soldiers transported 140 Carthaginian elephants from Sicily to Rome’s Circus Maximus, according to the first-century historian Pliny the Elder.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • All the gold is gone, and there’s barely enough to pay her soldiers, let alone throw a lavish coronation.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of soldiers
Noun
  • In places such as Taiwan, Daoist priests can be seen today conducting rituals at community temples and annual festivals.
    — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Without bishops, De Piante said, the SSPX would eventually have no priests to celebrate Mass, hear confessions or administer the sacraments that members believe are central to their spiritual lives.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Definition of priests
Noun
  • Two monks sustained serious injuries, and one monk lost part of his leg as a result of the crash.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of monks

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Cite this Entry

“Missionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missionaries. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on missionaries

Nglish: Translation of missionaries for Spanish Speakers

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