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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
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 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 Rashi concludes that the text, therefore, must refer to a ger, a proselyte, who has died leaving no next of kin among the Jewish People. Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 17 May 2021 The law of gezel hager (stealing from a proselyte) reminds us that the Torah was given to all Jews – including converts. Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 17 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proselyte
Noun
  • After Steinberg established himself on the varsity level in the spring, the Manhattan recruit helped pitch the Saints to a summer state championship.
    Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Power conference programs have built multimillion-dollar NIL war chests to attract top-tier recruits and transfers, giving them a significant talent advantage over the majority of their non-Power conference counterparts.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Over centuries, bacteria broke down ammonia in guano, converting it into nitrates that accumulated in cave soil.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Fred Doe, 36, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to convert or transfer criminal property, namely the gold, while 41-year-old Bora Guccuk was acquitted of that charge.
    Fox News, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • If Florida beats Norfolk State, two-time defending national champion UConn could be waiting as a No. 8 seed — the Huskies (23-10) first must beat SEC newcomer Oklahoma (20-13).
    Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Improved visuals, combat, and a new story chapter entice returning fans and newcomers alike.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But her proselytizing about contraception and her work with prostitutes made even her friends uncomfortable.
    Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025
  • This latest movie from Angel Studios demonstrates that the distributor’s interest in releasing films that veer away from proselytizing is paying off artistically.
    Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proselyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proselyte. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on proselyte

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!