1
as in audience
a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film) long after it had gone off the air, the TV series continued to have a huge cult

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2
as in religion
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities an ancient cult that centered on the worship of the earth as the source of all life

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cult His wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon), has become a cult-like figure in the small town of Tall Pines—a place reminiscent of Twin Peaks—and has gone into labor early. Adrianne Webster, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025 Guests will be able to return to the Netherworld to visit their favorite haunts inspired by Tim Burton’s cult classic film. Emily Burns, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025 Krasznahorkai eventually found a global cult audience, who recognized his distinct ability to cloak anomie, violence, and resignation, smudged with a kind of gutter comedy, within a labyrinthine syntax. Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025 These brands have developed cult followings by offering professional-grade results without the spa price tag. Essence, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cult
Noun
  • He could also be seen nodding his approval after the dance — and earning a thunderous round of excited shouts from the audience.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Dennis Quaid, who played Hendrix’s love interest in the film, was in the audience for the tribute.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Meyer-Harley’s son has already begun working through his reading list, starting with by Madeleine L’Engle—a classic that has faced multiple challenges over the years due to its themes of magic and religion.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cult. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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