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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
In a recent interview with The Guardian, the writer/executive producer noted that the three-season Sex and the City follow-up will potentially enjoy cult status over time.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
Will any other sycophants in his cult get the message?
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
While some Kirkland items have their own cult following—we’re looking at you, rotisserie chicken—others fly a bit more under the radar.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026
Coop, the creator of cult-favorite pillows for home use, makes a small, compressible, and customizable camping pillow available now at Amazon.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cult
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2026
Will any other sycophants in his cult get the message?
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
While some Kirkland items have their own cult following—we’re looking at you, rotisserie chicken—others fly a bit more under the radar.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026
Coop, the creator of cult-favorite pillows for home use, makes a small, compressible, and customizable camping pillow available now at Amazon.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cult
Noun
-
Yet key dramatic moments—a shooting, the robbers’ realization that the bank vault is empty—occurred in a hallway invisible to the audience, described secondhand.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Through a dozen feature films and one local short, the festival’s films invite audiences to reflect on resilience, identity and powerful storytelling in the face of adversity, according to Giovanna Torres, founder of Cine Casual.—
Adam Bell
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Christianity is the world's largest religion.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cult. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
