proselyte 1 of 2

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
  • In January, dozens of Ultra-Orthodox recruits joined the military’s new Hasmonean Brigade.
    Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The recruit was a victim-witness advocate at the Worcester District Attorney’s office before joining the MSP, so that office recused itself from the investigation.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • They were converted from firing nuclear missiles to conducting conventional land attacks and are armed with up to 154 Tomahawk missiles, each with a range of 1,000 miles.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Kickstarter supporters can also opt to have Nomad convert their current bike to an e-bike for $2,000.
    William Roberson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Other pros, including Gleb Savchenko, Ezra Sosa, and newcomer Jan Ravnik, appear to be single this season—but as past seasons have shown, the ballroom has a way of sparking unexpected connections.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Classic black and stainless steel are taking a backseat to bold, bright hues as kitchenware brands—including stalwarts such as Le Creuset and KitchenAid, as well as newcomers like Great Jones and Caraway—embrace color in the kitchen.
    Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kirk co-founded and was CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, with an early focus on proselytizing on college campuses for low taxes and limited government.
    Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In the Mormon church, young adult men volunteer to leave home for proselytizing missions for two years and young women serve for 18 months.
    Jillian Frankel, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Proselyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proselyte. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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