catechize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to instruct orally by means of questions and answers, especially in Christian doctrine.
-
to question with reference to belief.
-
to question closely.
- Synonyms:
- probe, examine, quiz, interrogate
verb
-
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
Her Form mates, more inquisitive than Miss Gibbs, gathered round her and began to catechize.
From The Madcap of the School by Balliol Salmon
Therefore to catechize and to exorcize do not belong to the office of the priests, but rather to that of the ministers.
From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas
Let a person catechize his own experiences on this subject: it will have a salutary effect.
From Revisiting the Earth by James Langdon Hill
There was service again in the afternoon, when the very reverend gentleman was wont to catechize.
From Pretty Michal by Mór Jókai
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
Dr. G. A. Huntley of the Chinese mission field asserted that 49 out of 50 missionaries in China would resign rather than submit to being catechized as to their faith.
From Time Magazine Archive
Consider the position analogous to that of one of Her Majesty's Ministers catechized by an impertinent demagogue.
From When Ghost Meets Ghost by William Frend De Morgan
A Clergyman engaged in catechizing a village school, asked a youngster, “what his godfathers and godmothers did for him?”
From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2018
He absolutely could not leave off catechizing her.
From Pretty Michal by Mór Jókai
This custom, long fallen into disuse, has largely been revived during recent years, the children going to church for a special afternoon service of which catechizing is the chief feature.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various
A short service, in which the Dyaks respond heartily, and a catechizing follows, during which they are allowed to ask questions of their teacher.
From Sketches of Our Life at Sarawak by Henriette McDougall
Preaching and catechizing, fasting and thanksgiving, were duly observed.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 11 by Rossiter Johnson
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