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
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
  • The former four-star recruit imposes his will in the run game and doesn’t take kindly to defenders who try to bull-rush his pocket.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Lexie Arthur, 2026, SS Arthur, an uncommitted recruit, is hitting .426 with 26 hits and 29 runs through April 7.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The largest cause of deforestation is a lack of demand for forest products, which causes our forest to be converted to industrial, agricultural, residential uses.
    Rob Marciano, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • However, his time with the Patriots was brief—the team had drafted him with the intention of converting him to another position like defensive back or running back, position changes Gannon resisted.
    Omaid Homayun, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Great Escape festival is held on an annual basis every May in the seaside city of Brighton, and spotlights emerging and rising talent from the U.K. and Ireland as well as international newcomers.
    Thomas Smith, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Dickinson, Babygirl actor and a relative newcomer to A-list stardom, will debut his feature film Urchin, about a drifter (Frank Dillane) on the streets of London.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And Justice Elena Kagan pointed out that some religions proselytize and some don’t.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Scherzer has been proselytizing his argument for several years, as M.L.B. has continued to study the issue with what appears to be more intellectual curiosity than urgency.
    Bruce Schoenfeld Robert Fass Tanya Pérez Brian St. Pierre, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Proselyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proselyte. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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