proselytize

• proselytise (non-Oxford British English)

From proselyte +‎ -ize.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ə.taɪz/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lə.taɪz/
  • (Canada) (in addition to the above:) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lə.taɪz/

proselytize (third-person singular simple present proselytizes, present participle proselytizing, simple past and past participle proselytized)

1. (transitive, intransitive, broadly) To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.

   Synonyms: evangelize, convert

   1. (transitive, intransitive, strictly) To coerce into religious conversion.

      Synonym: convert

      Coordinate term: evangelize

   • 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, , London: J. Owen, , and F and C Rivington, , →OCLC:

     One of these whom they endeavour to proselytize.

   • 1909, Ralph Connor, chapter 14, in The Foreigner:

     “I am not sent here to proselytize. My church is not in that business.”

   • 2001 December 10, Douglas Waller, “A Terror Threat From The South”, in Time:

     Counterterrorism officials believe bin Laden has set up cells to proselytize the large Middle East expatriate population living in the area.

   It is illegal to proselytize in some countries

2. (by extension, transitive, intransitive) To advertise a non-religious belief, way of living, cause, point of view, (scientific) hypothesis, social or other position, political party, or other organization; to convince someone to join such a cause or organization or support such a position; to recruit someone.

   Synonyms: advocate, back, endorse, peddle, recruit

   He has strong political views, and an annoying habit of proselytizing at parties.

   • 2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149:

     Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years […]

• proselyte
• proselytism

• “proselytize”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.