cults

plural of cult
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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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 The four-time Emmy nominee also watched documentaries about cults, listening to interviews of people who had survived them. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 Educational pamphlets on criminal cults, which includes research done by Rose, are also available to guests. Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026 Whether they’re built around apocalyptic beliefs, aliens, religion, or even romance, cults and the people who fall under their spell tend to make for irresistible subject matter. Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026 Scientists had begun revisiting anthropological accounts of hallucinogenic rituals—iboga ceremonies in Central Africa, peyote cults in the American Southwest. Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026 Perhaps a book that couched Castaneda’s story more deeply in the context of the ’70s counterculture and the nature of cults past and present would make his story clearer. Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 That’s obviously why the book is structured around six cults. David Weigel, semafor.com, 17 June 2026 The Oscar nominee, 52, stars in the new Tribeca Film Festival premiere The Leader as Bonnie Lu Nettles, a founder of Heaven's Gate, one of the most notorious cults in American history. Nigel Smith, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 As with virtually all modern cults, followers of von Mierers were required to give him money. Emma Banks, InStyle, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cults
religions
Noun
  • Creation stories are, after all, fundamental to most religions.
    Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
  • What to read next Things to do One of Istanbul's greatest pleasures is discovering how effortlessly the city layers empires, religions and cultures.
    Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

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“Cults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cults. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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