exorcism

noun

Definition of exorcismnext
as in witchcraft

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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 exorcism The Transference Theory This is a cousin of the exorcism theory. — Ravi Gupta, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026 Religious leaders may use prayer, pastoral counseling, and even exorcism as conversion practices. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 June 2026 Unlike contemporaries such as Nirvana, a punk band that wanted to shred the patriarchal rock hegemony of the ’80s, and Pearl Jam, which functioned as an exorcism for the soul night in and night out, Corgan never hid his rock star ambitions. — David Harris, SPIN, 2 June 2026 In my case, a boy named Ben is forced to participate in a Buddhist exorcism to remove the feminine spirit from his body. — Literary Hub, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for exorcism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exorcism
  1. witchcraft
  2. sorcery
  3. necromancy
  4. divination
  5. wizardry
  6. witchery
  7. magic
  8. conjuring
Noun
  • The British horror film stars Oscar-winner Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, telling the story of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century priest who was accused of witchcraft.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Think earthy, free-spirited garb, Bohemian crafts and clothing, and the visual symbols of Wicca and other witchcraft traditions.
    — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of witchcraft
Noun
  • His brother-in-law had been accused of sorcery, and his home had been set on fire.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • With ancient Greek tale The Odyssey still slashing its way to peak box office, the sword and sorcery age remains a potent genre for Hollywood.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of sorcery
Noun
  • The movie, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary on May 3, showed us how to use our magic and morals to decide whether to embrace necromancy and the occult.
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
  • Hedva’s practice cooks magic, necromancy, and divination together with mystical states of fury and ecstasy, and political states of solidarity and disintegration.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Definition of necromancy
Noun
  • Other common practices among Druids include the celebration of seasonal festivals, meditation, and divination.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The competition series featured masters of shamanism, tarot, face and foot reading, saju and other divination disciplines competing in challenges that tested their abilities, using tools including fans, bells, dowsing rods and modern-day laptops.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of divination
Noun
  • By some architectural wizardry of concrete and glass the pictures inside stand to attention, as if they, too, are suspended in time and space—a collection that faces in one direction, in orderly fashion, like the Terracotta Army.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
  • Anyway, Will Venable has my imaginary vote, though Mike Vasil's wizardry might be the bigger reason why the White Sox are rolling.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of wizardry
Noun
  • Enter kitchen witchery, a practice rooted in modern witchcraft that blends intention, ritual, and everyday cooking.
    — Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Ravn beautifully brings us inside these circles of care, which to many outsiders might have seemed as strange as witchery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of witchery
Noun
  • In the end, Cameroon’s experience won out as Malawi’s debut magic dried up one game too soon.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tokarz needed the cube to play both on stage in Los Angeles and on the Strip in Las Vegas, so the sequence was broken into three bits and, with the magic of VFX and editing, seamlessly woven together.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of magic
Noun
  • Therefore, in my mind, homemade desserts were magic only grandmothers were capable of conjuring.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 31 July 2026
  • Everyone here has been brought by Vernon, really, by mystical conjuring if not literal invitation, the rock star as co-author.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026
Definition of conjuring

Browse Nearby Words

exorcising
exorcism
exorcisms
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Cite this Entry

“Exorcism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exorcism. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on exorcism

Nglish: Translation of exorcism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about exorcism

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