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
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
In a retreat focused on the Virgin Mary held one month before the group was to enter the novitiate, the Mistress of Postulants told them that the 10 months of the postulancy are like the months of pregnancy—that the postulants were, in a very real spiritual sense, gestating Jesus in their wombs.
—Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 1 June 2023
In 2011, Strassburger entered the Jesuit novitiate in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
—Jack Herrera, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2024
Nell Tiger Free stars as a young American novitiate at an Italian orphanage who becomes embroiled in a rogue Catholic Church conspiracy to birth the antichrist.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
Set in the early 1970s, the story revolves around Margaret (an impressive Nell Tiger Free, Servant), a young novitiate sent by the Church to Rome to work at an orphanage.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Playing a nurse named Ann who lives next door to distraught widowed father Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), Dowd is given a clunky backstory as a one-time novitiate nun, who abandoned plans to join the convent after breaking her commitment.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Victor’s neighbor, Ann (Ann Dowd), a nurse and former novitiate, enlists a priest, Father Maddox (E.J. Bonilla), to perform an exorcism on the girls.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
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.
—Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
In a retreat focused on the Virgin Mary held one month before the group was to enter the novitiate, the Mistress of Postulants told them that the 10 months of the postulancy are like the months of pregnancy—that the postulants were, in a very real spiritual sense, gestating Jesus in their wombs.
—Rebecca J. Lester, Scientific American, 1 June 2023
In 2011, Strassburger entered the Jesuit novitiate in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
—Jack Herrera, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2024
Nell Tiger Free stars as a young American novitiate at an Italian orphanage who becomes embroiled in a rogue Catholic Church conspiracy to birth the antichrist.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024
Set in the early 1970s, the story revolves around Margaret (an impressive Nell Tiger Free, Servant), a young novitiate sent by the Church to Rome to work at an orphanage.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Playing a nurse named Ann who lives next door to distraught widowed father Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), Dowd is given a clunky backstory as a one-time novitiate nun, who abandoned plans to join the convent after breaking her commitment.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Victor’s neighbor, Ann (Ann Dowd), a nurse and former novitiate, enlists a priest, Father Maddox (E.J. Bonilla), to perform an exorcism on the girls.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
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.
—Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for novitiate
Noun
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There are some things novice and experienced dog owners should know to raise a successful pup to adulthood.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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As Syrus Solo Jin wrote in Time, budget blunders by overwhelmed novices meant police weren’t paid on time.—
Michelle Goldberg,
The Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Her lore reveal indicates that her childlike stature doesn't always inspire confidence in her apprentices at first with some even requesting their money to be refunded upon seeing her.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The Clone Wars features several fan favorites, including Anakin’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, who wouldn’t appear in live-action until The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and finally her own series, Ahsoka.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For beginners, the goal is to get the minimum weekly requirements and increase from there.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Six different yoga classes are offered, from hot and powerful to slow and mindful, for beginners or experienced.—
Anne Gelhaus,
The Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Banks started at left tackle as a true freshman in ’22 for the Longhorns and has excelled ever since.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2025
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There’s a chance Ohio State plays as many as three running backs in major snaps next season, and if that’s the case, there could be a freshman ready to make an immediate impact too.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There are dozens of other newcomers to the big leagues who could determine the course of the 2025 title chases.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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Here are the relative newcomers Hayes will be assessing with an eye toward future national team camps.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Colapinto’s arrival in January to much fanfare naturally seemed to put pressure on rookie Doohan, who is just one race into his F1 career after his late-season debut in Abu Dhabi last year.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
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Holland played under defensive coordinator Brian Flores during his rookie season in 2021 and that was an excellent season with 69 tackles, 10 passes defensed and 2.5 sacks.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Novitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novitiate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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