catechize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to instruct orally by means of questions and answers, especially in Christian doctrine.
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to question with reference to belief.
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to question closely.
- Synonyms:
- probe, examine, quiz, interrogate
verb
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to teach or examine by means of questions and answers
-
to give oral instruction in Christianity, esp by using a catechism
-
to put questions to (someone)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of catechize
1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin catēchizāre < Greek katēchízein to make (someone) learn by teaching orally, equivalent to katēch ( eîn ) to teach orally ( see catechist) + -izein -ize
Vocabulary lists containing catechize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Then the Cardinal began to catechize the priest who had once been an assistant to his secretariat.
From Time Magazine Archive
But the worst will be to catechize us as if we were witnesses in court.
From The Brightener by A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson
Surely," he exclaimed hastily, "I've no right to catechize you.
From The Galaxy Vol. XXIII?March, 1877.?No. 3 by Various
If from these lists you wander as you steer, Look back, and catechize your actions here.
From Poems of Henry Vaughan, Silurist, Volume II by E. K. (Edmund Kerchever) Chambers
Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong to a priest to catechize and exorcize the person to be baptized.
From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas
I was, in my view, blessed to be raised in the church and catechized as a little kid.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
“This exchange had catechized Julian on several points,” Ava thinks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2020
While they ate, they catechized her on her opinions, and were delighted to find that she believed in God and expected to vote Conservative when she was twenty-one.
From The New Yorker ● Jul. 2, 2012
Periodically, eleven-year-old Martin Bach is catechized by his grandmother.
From Time Magazine Archive
Realizing that he was being catechized, Trent replied guardedly.
From Caravans By Night A Romance of India by Harry Hervey
A Clergyman engaged in catechizing a village school, asked a youngster, “what his godfathers and godmothers did for him?”
From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2018
New girls must expect a little wholesome catechizing before they were admitted into the bosom of their Form.
From The School by the Sea by Angela Brazil
There was divine service in the temple at half-past ten A.M., conducted by the regular pastor, M. Schell, and instruction and catechizing of the children in the afternoon.
From The Huguenots in France by Samuel Smiles
"Interest questions" are just what the words imply, and have about them no suspicion of the inquisitive and impertinent catechizing which only fools, and not even knaves, indulge in.
From Conversation What to Say and How to Say it by Mary Greer Conklin
Supper over and the table cleared, he decided on further catechizing little Vada on points that still were a mystery to him.
From The Twins of Suffering Creek by Ridgwell Cullum
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