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
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Recent Examples of cults
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
The game's story operates ambitiously in two timelines and features massive killer robots, cults, and mad Sun Kings, all set against the gorgeous background of the American West.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2024
The Satanic panic was a mass moral panic based on the idea that satanic cults were causing widespread abuse throughout the country.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
Why are religious cults specifically tricky to untangle from?
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Just like cults, marketers exploit vulnerabilities, create in-groups and out-groups and play on emotions to drive behavior.
—Dr. Mara Einstein, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2024
After the 1978 mass murder and suicide of 909 people in the Jonestown settlement in Guyana directed by the charismatic leader Jim Jones, Zimbardo explored the social dynamics of cults.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Soon, Happy Hollow is awash in rumors of teenage cults and demonic possession, and where there’s smoke, there may be actual hellfire.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
Rumors of satanic cults spreading across the country were amplified by TV news personalities like Geraldo Rivera and treated as serious threats by the FBI.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
The game's story operates ambitiously in two timelines and features massive killer robots, cults, and mad Sun Kings, all set against the gorgeous background of the American West.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2024
The Satanic panic was a mass moral panic based on the idea that satanic cults were causing widespread abuse throughout the country.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
Why are religious cults specifically tricky to untangle from?
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Just like cults, marketers exploit vulnerabilities, create in-groups and out-groups and play on emotions to drive behavior.
—Dr. Mara Einstein, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2024
After the 1978 mass murder and suicide of 909 people in the Jonestown settlement in Guyana directed by the charismatic leader Jim Jones, Zimbardo explored the social dynamics of cults.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
Soon, Happy Hollow is awash in rumors of teenage cults and demonic possession, and where there’s smoke, there may be actual hellfire.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
Rumors of satanic cults spreading across the country were amplified by TV news personalities like Geraldo Rivera and treated as serious threats by the FBI.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cults
religions
Noun
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Relatively few religions contain tenets forbidding vaccination.—
Kirby Wilson,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
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Can people with different cultures, different histories, or different religions live together in peace?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cults. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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