Definition of catechizenext
1
as in to ask
to put a question or questions to her roommates catechized her about every detail of her first day at her new job

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2
as in to interrogate
to put a series of questions to applicants are rigorously catechized by the seminary's rector regarding their motives for joining the priesthood

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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 catechize Priests could not catechize children, bring the sacraments to the sick, or do pastoral work outside the local churchyard. George Weigel, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catechize
Verb
  • Ali, who wasn’t formally charged, called his family to say that he would be released on bail, and asked them to gather the funds and collect him from prison.
    Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The Manteca Fire Department is taking action and trying to get ahead of this fire season by asking residents to reduce fire danger or face fines.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Recordings of the three men being interrogated provide the basis for flashbacks, and scenes set in Tehran’s artistic beau monde of the late sixties show the aftermath of their adventures.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Jamie and his crew arrive, kill almost everyone, and bring Lionel back to Fraser’s Ridge to interrogate him.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • If someone invokes these rights, police are supposed to stop questioning them immediately.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Quinn says investigators questioned his story.
    Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Another, by the Agency for Health Care Administration, examined whether the Flagami house where Rabell lived was an unlicensed elder care facility.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Syria policy and sanctions questions The report also examines Turkey’s role in Syria, where the country backed opposition forces during the civil war, supporting a range of armed factions, including groups that later formed the Syrian National Army.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Catechize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catechize. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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