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Glite Dictionary
to proselytize

to proselytize

12 9.1
To try to persuade someone to join another religion
  • verb
  • /ˈprɒsəˌlɪtaɪz/
  • US
translation icon : proselitizar
  • Defenders of the campaign noted that the Mormon church regularly sends thousands of missionaries to proselytize Southern Baptists.
  • missionaries to proselytize
  • proselytize to non-Christians

It's life, but the key is to not feel the need to proselytize and convert people.

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Examples

  • The missionary traveled to different countries to proselytize and share his faith with others.

  • None of this is a problem for faith traditions that don't proselytize.

    Academic text (2007)

  • It's life, but the key is to not feel the need to proselytize and convert people.

    DoctorRamani

  • In fact, I believe she intended to proselytize for her plans at her dinner party Saturday evening.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Let us try to be friends and, without proselytizing, find common ground.

    Academic text (2007)

  • And Josh and I are not proselytizing on how everyone should be living their lives.

  • But unlike the United States of America, the Chinese do not believe in proselytizing their beliefs.

    Harvard University

  • All faiths are free to establish places of worship, train clergy, and proselytize...

    Academic text (2004)

  • Environmental educators always run the risk of proselytizing or indoctrinating.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Did Olmec sages proselytize their maize-god religion among the lowland Maya?

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

to convince
vsto proselytize
∞ 2.7

Make someone believe something is true or agree to do something

is the same general act but targets religious change specifically
to persuade
vsto proselytize
472 2.7

To make someone agree or do something by giving reasons

applies broadly to any belief or action, not only changing religion
to preach
vsto proselytize
192 3.8

Talk to people to persuade them to support a cause

involves actively trying to persuade someone to change religious belief rather than just speaking with fervor
to convert
vsto proselytize
131 4.5

Change your religion, or persuade someone else to do this

focuses on trying to persuade rather than the completed change
to evangelize
vsto proselytize
3 6.9

Try to persuade people to accept a belief, often a religious one

aims specifically to change religious affiliation or gain new members
to missionize
vsto proselytize
8.6

To try to make people support an idea or cause, often in politics

is limited to changing religious belief rather than secular or political causes

Antonyms

to discourage
257 3.5

To try to stop something by making people less willing to do it

How Persuasive

to pressure
149 4.2
to proselytize
  • US
12 9.1
to persuade
472 2.7
to encourage
∞ 2.3
to suggest
∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

proselytize infinitive
proselytized past
proselytized past participle
proselytizing present participle
proselytizes third person singular

Morphology

proselytize = proselyte (transparent) = proselyte + ize

The verb is a regular verb-forming derivation from the noun 'proselyte' with '-ize', meaning 'to make or convert into a proselyte', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Proselytize comes from the Greek word proselytos, which meant 'one who has come over' or a 'newcomer', and the part pros- means 'toward'. So, to proselytize is to try to bring someone 'toward' your religion or to make them join your group.