apostasy

noun

Definition of apostasynext
as in schism

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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 apostasy For Pittsburghers, whose city had for so long been singularly defined by the production of steel, the idea that industrial competitiveness was not paramount bordered on apostasy. — Christopher Briem, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026 This Lent is magnifying his apostasy like never before. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 This triggers a slippery slope toward apostasy — that is, de-prioritizing mindedness toward church vetted preoccupations. — Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026 Its roots are in publicly paying penance for serious sins or crimes in the eyes of the church, like adultery or apostasy, which means renouncing the church and its beliefs. — Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apostasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apostasy
  1. schism
  2. sectarianism
  3. defection
  4. separatism
  5. scission
  6. infidelity
  7. heresy
  8. deviation
Noun
  • This is Kubrick’s modus operandi throughout the film, setting up scenes where furniture moves from shot to shot, wall decorations change, and there are further schisms between Ullman’s exposition and the reality that transpires.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The book follows this story for the critical eight years between 1527 and 1535, which led to the enduring schism that created the Church of England.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of schism
Noun
  • The pullout, however, leaves a new Iraqi government with the daunting task of loosening Iran’s grip on its neighbor, which has long been trapped in a cycle of sectarianism, foreign meddling and civil conflict.
    — Sarah Tamimi, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of sectarianism
Noun
  • Police set up barriers in Izmir’s main square Wednesday after the opposition called for people to protest Tugay’s defection.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But the defection of one conservative could lead to a tie vote.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of defection
Noun
  • Lich, who was tried and convicted in connection with the protests and is still under house arrest, has shifted her energies to Alberta separatism.
    — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Pakistan must manage its sizeable Shiite population and its sensitive relationship with Tehran, while Turkey and Iran share concerns over Kurdish separatism despite competing elsewhere in the region.
    — Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of separatism
Noun
  • When the nucleus ultimately disintegrates, these pieces move apart rapidly and the neck snaps quickly, a process known as scission.
    — Charles Q. Choi, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2021
  • The structure is easily broken down in a reaction called scission (like scissors), which tears up the polymer chain.
    — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 5 Aug. 2020
Definition of scission
Noun
  • Sure, that sounds ridiculous for a season about rape, infidelity, mass murder, suicide, and society’s ruthless commodification of those very things.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The 82-year-old actor writes candidly about infidelity, addiction, his son’s imprisonment and his battle with oral cancer, while reflecting on the costs of a life in show business and his love for California.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of infidelity
Noun
  • The campaign has included an allegation of heresy This year’s race is unusual because of attacks from the Christian right branding Hamilton a heretic.
    — John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This interpretation was not universally popular—in fact, conservative elements in the Presbyterian Church threatened to put Fosdick on denominational trial for heresy.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of heresy
Noun
  • Any deviation from the standard of care felt like a reckless gamble with death.
    — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Many proteins have significant regions where limited changes to their amino acid sequence are tolerable and other areas where even a slight deviation from the existing sequence inactivates the protein.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of deviation

Browse Nearby Words

apostasies
apostasy
apostate
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Cite this Entry

“Apostasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apostasy. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apostasy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about apostasy

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