Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To attempt to convert someone to one's own religious faith.
  • intransitive verb To attempt to persuade someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
  • intransitive verb To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make a proselyte of; induce to become the adherent of some religion, doctrine, sect, or party; convert.
  • To make proselytes or converts.
  • Also spelled proselytise.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To make converts or proselytes.
  • transitive verb To convert to some religion, system, opinion, or the like; to bring, or cause to come, over; to proselyte.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To encourage or induce people to join a religious movement, political party, or other cause or organization.
  • verb transitive To convert (someone) to one’s own faith or beliefs.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb convert to another faith or religion

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

proselyte +‎ -ize

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Examples

  • Obama's disastrous interview in the Advocate - where he claimed his gay role model (a professor whose name he couldn't remember) was his role model because he didn't "proselytize" - should have sounded the alarm for the gay community before the primaries.

    Frank slams Obama for 'big mistake' on Defense of Marriage Act (updated) 2009

  • (Dau tranh chinh tri), and "proselytizing" (van) .6 In the English language, the term proselytize means to convert from one belief or faith to another.

    POWs and Politics - Part 1 1996

  • My guess is the latter since in the face of mounting evidence that shows the Bible is false, believers are hording together in an attempt to still convince themselves that there might be at least a shred of hope that their faith is real. southborder, no, the book has no power except as a tool to proselytize, which is not allowed in the schools and why distribution is prohibited by law.

    billingsgazette.com 2009

  • The reason for the latter well-documented phenomenon is that the person who has lost his faith in reality has an inner need to "proselytize" and convert others in order to not feel alone in his cosmic meaninglessness.

    One Cʘsmos Gagdad Bob 2010

  • Out of curiosity, is someone, or has someone attempted to "proselytize" you on a military base or in an occupied country?

    WHAT REALLY HAPPENED Mike Rivero 2010

  • The reason for the latter well-documented phenomenon is that the person who has lost his faith in reality has an inner need to "proselytize" and convert others in order to not feel alone in his cosmic meaninglessness.

    One Cʘsmos 2010

  • Cisneros, who served in the Clinton administration, said he hopes to launch the group this year to "proselytize" the significance of immigrants and "the absolutely invaluable role they'll play in the American future."

    CNSNews.com Headlines 2009

  • Cisneros, who served in the Clinton administration, said he hopes to launch the group this year to "proselytize" the significance of immigrants and "the absolutely invaluable role they'll play in the American future."

    HispanicTrending 2009

  • "proselytize" and "pluralism" as someone said on the radio today, are terms used to shut people up.

    BBC World Have Your Say 2008

  • "proselytize" and "pluralism" as someone said on the radio today, are terms used to shut people up.

    BBC World Have Your Say markhalliley 2008

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