as in religions
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
Relevance
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 cults
Whitewashed cults of martyrdom have sprung up around the January 6th rioters and Charlie Kirk.
—
Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Is there a timeline, a regulatory environment, in which the internet does not turn into a highly efficient manufacturer of niche suicide cults?
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Teaming with a colorful cast of characters, their investigation sends them on an expedition that takes in Scottish politics, AI, cults, secret agents, smugglers, and vegan record shops.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Over the course of its wildly wonderful seven seasons, the CW series saw its cast solve murders, face off against cults, go to prison, fight bears, go back in time, and gain superpowers — and, somehow, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
The origins of that industry really are self-help cults from the '70s that use these really kind of barbaric behavioral therapy modification programs.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
A lot of those schools evolved from self-help cults in the 1970s, like Synanon.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
There such a rich history of films about cults.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Unlike cults, whose followers tend to idolize a leader and cut themselves off from society, sovereign citizens operate independently and hold different views about which laws apply to them.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Is there a timeline, a regulatory environment, in which the internet does not turn into a highly efficient manufacturer of niche suicide cults?
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Teaming with a colorful cast of characters, their investigation sends them on an expedition that takes in Scottish politics, AI, cults, secret agents, smugglers, and vegan record shops.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Over the course of its wildly wonderful seven seasons, the CW series saw its cast solve murders, face off against cults, go to prison, fight bears, go back in time, and gain superpowers — and, somehow, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
The origins of that industry really are self-help cults from the '70s that use these really kind of barbaric behavioral therapy modification programs.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
A lot of those schools evolved from self-help cults in the 1970s, like Synanon.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
There such a rich history of films about cults.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Unlike cults, whose followers tend to idolize a leader and cut themselves off from society, sovereign citizens operate independently and hold different views about which laws apply to them.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cults
religions
Noun
-
These women practiced conjure, a spiritual tradition that blended West African religions with Christianity in the deep and low-country South.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
-
It’s also filled with striking visuals (courtesy of cinematographer Leung Ming Kai) that capture the beauty of a region in which different ethnicities (Chinese, Thai, Malaysian) and religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam) have coexisted for decades.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cults. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share