proselytizing

[ pros-uh-luh-tahy-zing ]

noun

1. the act or process of converting or attempting to convert someone to a religion or other belief system:

   The regulations governing the religious practice of foreigners include a ban on proselytizing.

adjective

1. intending or attempting to convert others to a religion or other belief system:

   We are not a proselytizing religion, and we don’t believe that our faith is the One True Way for everyone.

   The book uses an enthusiastic, almost proselytizing tone to promote the idea that anyone can be an inventor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of proselytizing¹

First recorded in 1780–90; proselytiz(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun; proselytiz(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

I was born into a family that didn’t discuss politics at all, only religion, and only in the context of our own denominations of Christianity and proselytizing.

From Salon

My attraction to being on the road — would “proselytizing” be the right word for it? — comes from explaining a point of view that I come from and inviting people into it.

From Los Angeles Times

She described it as a place of constant proselytizing and overzealous sin policing.

From Slate

“By adding negative language that is not remotely close to the proposed amendment’s language,” Brunner explained in her dissent, “the ballot board crafted language to mislead voters into believing that there is something ‘bad’ about the amendment—instead of omitting argumentative language and letting the voters make their decisions unfettered by the board’s proselytizing.”

From Slate

They were proselytizing to us through their lifestyle.

From Salon