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.
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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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Sheehy has been a staunch supporter of former President Trump and made that central to his campaign as a political novice.The Hill, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
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John Mayer, a relative Dead novice at the time, took on the difficult role of fronting Dead & Company alongside guitarist Bob Weir, drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, bassist Oteil Burbridge, and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti.Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The series follows the adventures of Henry Hart, who gets selected by superhero Captain Man to be his apprentice.Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2024
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The series followed Norman's Henry Hart, whom superhero Captain Man (Cooper Barnes) selected as his apprentice.Dory Jackson, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
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On the other hand, longer breaks, especially those lasting months, tend to result in more significant losses, particularly for beginners.Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Health, 13 Dec. 2024
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For beginners, try the OXO mandoline or the Japanese Benriner No. 64 mandoline for more experienced chefs.Lanee Lee, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In his freshman season, Hunter finished with four receiving touchdowns, 20 total tackles and two interceptions in eight games.Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
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Reis led the defense with eight tackles and brother Weston (both freshmen linebackers) added seven.Los Angeles Times staff, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Expansion draft criticisms American sports leagues have long used expansion drafts as a means to competitive balance for their newcomers.Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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Germann joins an ensemble that also includes the returning Neve Campbell, who stars across the franchise as final girl Sidney Prescott, as well as newcomers Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The rookie quarterback leads the Broncos (9-5) into a critical divisional rematch Thursday as the Chargers (8-6) try to reverse a late-season swoon.Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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At 9-5 with a rookie quarterback, a winning mix of kids, journeymen and salary-cap purgatory, this season is already found money — one sack-happy, overachieving honeymoon.Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near novitiate
Cite this Entry
“Novitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/novitiate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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