proselytize
verb
pros·e·ly·tize ˈprä-s(ə-)lə-ˌtīz 
proselytized; proselytizing
intransitive verb
1
: to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2
: to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
transitive verb
: to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause
proselytization
ˌprä-s(ə-)lə-tə-ˈzā-shən
noun ˌprä-sə-ˌlī-tə-
proselytizer
ˈprä-s(ə-)lə-ˌtī-zər
noun 
Did you know?
Proselytize comes from the noun proselyte (meaning "a new convert"), which comes from the Late Latin noun proselytus. Proselytus means "stranger" or "alien resident," and comes from a similar Greek word (prosēlytos). When proselytize entered English in the 17th century, it had a distinctly religious connotation and meant simply "to recruit religious converts." This meaning is still common, but today one can also proselytize in a broader sense - recruiting converts to one's political party or pet cause, for example.
Synonyms
- convert
- proselyte
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They are a sport-shirted, discomforted lot, pacing, puffing feverishly on cigarettes, perspiring freely and proselytizing furiously. 
Nicholas Dawidoff, Sports Illustrated, 19 Aug. 1991 His prodigious correspondence with twenty-five hundred scientists, politicians, and men of letters … proselytized for his new science of statistics. Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983 He uses his position to proselytize for the causes that he supports. the efforts of early missionaries to proselytize the Native Americans of Minnesota were largely unproductive
Nicholas Dawidoff, Sports Illustrated, 19 Aug. 1991 His prodigious correspondence with twenty-five hundred scientists, politicians, and men of letters … proselytized for his new science of statistics. Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983 He uses his position to proselytize for the causes that he supports. the efforts of early missionaries to proselytize the Native Americans of Minnesota were largely unproductive Recent Examples on the Web The Visitor Complex, of course, is not reticent in its efforts to proselytize and promote. Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Community leaders and left-leaning politicians regularly show up to proselytize. Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2022 For a mezcal cocktail, it is beloved by pretty much everyone who tries it, and just obscure enough that its fans enthusiastically proselytize. Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 16 July 2022 The event forced the president to acknowledge that the United State’s ability to proselytize about democratic values had been weakened by the Jan. 6 insurrection by a pro-Trump mob trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. Eli Stokols, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2022 While the film’s marketing touts its family and faith values, the movie itself doesn’t proselytize so much as pay heed to Aikens’ spiritual and familial journeys. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 14 July 2022 No matter the group’s size, members were always careful to impress upon newcomers the church’s agreement not to proselytize, Parkinson says. The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 July 2022 For some Christians, the path ahead is simple: Pray, proselytize and prepare your hearts. Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 Why did Carson feel so strongly the need to proselytize the wonders of wonder? Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 17 May 2022 See More
Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Community leaders and left-leaning politicians regularly show up to proselytize. Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2022 For a mezcal cocktail, it is beloved by pretty much everyone who tries it, and just obscure enough that its fans enthusiastically proselytize. Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 16 July 2022 The event forced the president to acknowledge that the United State’s ability to proselytize about democratic values had been weakened by the Jan. 6 insurrection by a pro-Trump mob trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. Eli Stokols, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2022 While the film’s marketing touts its family and faith values, the movie itself doesn’t proselytize so much as pay heed to Aikens’ spiritual and familial journeys. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 14 July 2022 No matter the group’s size, members were always careful to impress upon newcomers the church’s agreement not to proselytize, Parkinson says. The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 July 2022 For some Christians, the path ahead is simple: Pray, proselytize and prepare your hearts. Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 Why did Carson feel so strongly the need to proselytize the wonders of wonder? Anelise Chen, The Atlantic, 17 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see proselyte entry 1
First Known Use
1679, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
proselytizers
noun
as in missionaries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- missionaries
- adherents
- acolytes
- soldiers
- apostles
- votaries
- disciples
- converts
- followers
- advocates
- loyalists
- epigones
- zealots
- students
- protégés
- supporters
- faithfuls
- sectarians
- partizans
- ideologists
- partisans
- worshippers
- pupils
- cultists
- champions
- ideologues
- votarists
- devotees
- worshipers
- idealogues
- scholars
- liege men
- backers
- enthusiasts
- fans
- sycophants
- idolators
- toadies
- admirers
- myrmidons
- idolaters
- minions
- lackeys
- apparatchiks
- stooges
- henchmen
- flunkeys
- satellites
- hangers-on
- lickspittles
- camp followers
- apparatchiki
- flunkies
- yes-men
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- leaders
- renegades
- defectors
- apostates
- traitors
- turncoats
- coryphaei