as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acolyte
In casting his acolytes, Del Toro seeks the alchemy that only human minds and hands can accomplish building tangible worlds.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Once ridiculed and dismissed for his nonconformist views on vaccines, nutrition, and exercise, Kennedy now leads a vast legion of followers and acolytes.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
The deep dive into the Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein director, who will turn 100 in June, features interviews with collaborators and acolytes like Rob Reiner and Judd Apatow, who recount his spectacular rise to fame and enormous influence.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
DaCosta likens the actions of Jimmy and his acolytes to those of Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston) and his soldiers, who turned to enslaving and raping women in the wake of society's collapse in the first movie.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acolyte
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Once ridiculed and dismissed for his nonconformist views on vaccines, nutrition, and exercise, Kennedy now leads a vast legion of followers and acolytes.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
The deep dive into the Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein director, who will turn 100 in June, features interviews with collaborators and acolytes like Rob Reiner and Judd Apatow, who recount his spectacular rise to fame and enormous influence.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
DaCosta likens the actions of Jimmy and his acolytes to those of Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston) and his soldiers, who turned to enslaving and raping women in the wake of society's collapse in the first movie.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acolyte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acolyte
Noun
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For decades, skiing in the backcountry – far from chairlifts, parking lots and the apres-ski bar scene – was the domain of only the most dedicated, or the most anti-corporate, adherents of the sport.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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Around 3 in 10 Americans are adherents of or sympathetic to Christian nationalism, the belief that America is or should be a Christian nation, according to data published in February by the Public Religion Research Institute.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Shrink the Win Stop measuring success in sales or followers or awards.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
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After sending the video to his mother, Spencer posted it on Instagram, to his thirty-six followers.—
John Kenney,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Following the master's cremation, his disciples sifted through the cremains and found several colorful, pearly relics.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
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Hsing Yun had instructed disciples not to look for relics in his ashes.—
Deepa Bharath,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acolyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acolyte. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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