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
From vengeful resurrections to satanic rituals, shoplifters waging war on capitalism to secret cults, shadow selves to harrowing births, these genre-defying films crown the Dolls as auteurs, protagonists, dreamers, and disruptors.
—
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 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
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
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
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cults
religions
Noun
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Elliot recalls that the religions the brothers that surrounded them growing up — Lucumí, Santería, Palo — were always practiced in hiding.—
MIGUEL SIRGADO,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
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Mount Sinai is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its sacred ties to the religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cults. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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