adherent 1 of 2

as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact the bandage is made from a mildly adherent fiber

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adherent

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word adherent different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of adherent are disciple, follower, and partisan. While all these words mean "one who gives full loyalty and support to another," adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

adherents to Marxism

When might disciple be a better fit than adherent?

Although the words disciple and adherent have much in common, disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

disciples of Gandhi

When can follower be used instead of adherent?

The meanings of follower and adherent largely overlap; however, follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

an evangelist and his followers

When is partisan a more appropriate choice than adherent?

The synonyms partisan and adherent are sometimes interchangeable, but partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

partisans of the President

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 adherent
Adjective
Researchers separated out a group of patients who took their medication for at least a full 120 days, to make sure the difference couldn’t be chalked up to one group being more adherent than the other. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 22 May 2024 With dry scalp, the flakes are likely to be whiter and smaller, and, says Dr. Gohara, since it’s not caused by an overabundance of oil, the flakes are not adherent. Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
Noun
The ideologies of antifa adherents are based on various left-wing causes, including communism, anarchism and socialism, while many also support environmentalism, the rights of indigenous populations and LGBTQ+ rights. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 Those on the diet had an average gum pocket depth of 2.83 mm while the lowest adherents had average pocket depths of 3.29 mm. New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adherent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adherent
Adjective
  • Tesla has issued at least eight recalls for the vehicle, including a recall in March affecting every single Cybertruck ever delivered through February 2025—some 46,000-plus vehicles—due to adhesive failure causing body panels to detach.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Let the adhesive dry and then test to see if your floorboard is firmly attached.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Bielsa lost both finals but gained admirers and disciples.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • His disciples picked up the mantle, even though those same forces wanted to kill them, too.
    Amy Stephens, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • To keep them from being a problem indoors in the first place, hang sticky traps in the garage near entrances to your home.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
  • That engagement with the sport – that sticky thing that separates casual viewers from lifelong fans — is buoyed and sustained online in the days between races.
    Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • At this year's Upfront advertising presentations, some companies, including Amazon's Prime Video, noted the recent success of podcast content as creators sign multimillion dollar deals and garner millions of followers and views.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Friedman, who has close to 8M followers on Instagram, is now launching his own talk show on YouTube.
    Peter White, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Grand Blanc attack was mentioned briefly on Saturday, Oct 4, at the start of the two-day conference by Elder Gary Stevenson, one of 12 apostles who help lead the church's 17.5 million members worldwide, almost 47,000 of them in Michigan.
    Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Nelson served as an apostle beginning in 1984 and became the church's leader in 2018.
    Mitch Picasso, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Miami philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell, who have given millions to different organizations across South Florida, are longtime supporters of the Foundation and are members of the Golden Angel Society, the Foundation’s premier giving group.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The statue is still standing years later amid a pushback from supporters, who see Columbus as a symbol of Italian American pride.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Maybe not for the straight women on these couches who are only engaging in three to eight minutes of missionary and then turning the light out, but there are all sorts of things people can do to pleasure each other.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The story of two mismatched missionaries spreading the gospel won nine Tony Awards in 2011, including for best musical.
    Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adherent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adherent. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on adherent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!