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
To call him a cult figure ignores the scale of his influence.
—
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Up until August 2023, Schmackary’s was a cult favorite among Manhattan’s Broadway theater community.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
The trailer leans hard into Maio Mackay’s love of ‘90s cult television.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
The show had a brief run on MTV but has become a cult classic in recent years, with younger generations discovering episodes online.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cult
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Up until August 2023, Schmackary’s was a cult favorite among Manhattan’s Broadway theater community.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
The trailer leans hard into Maio Mackay’s love of ‘90s cult television.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
The show had a brief run on MTV but has become a cult classic in recent years, with younger generations discovering episodes online.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cult
Noun
-
At one point nearly three hours into the meeting, Mayor White called a recess after audience members who were upset about time limits for speakers started shouting at the city clerk and members of the council.—
Stacy Brandt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Against that backdrop, Wednesday’s parade being heavy on troops and light on weapons could be deliberately calibrated for Kim’s domestic audience.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination concerning the sale and financing of housing based on race, religion or national origin.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Written by Carter Faith, Cameron Bedell, and Seth Ennis, the lyrics juxtapose human vices with the teachings of a major religion.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cult. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
