variants
or idolator
as in pagan
a person who does not worship the God of the Bible
an ancient civilization of pantheists and idolaters
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Recent Examples of idolater
The Founding Fathers knew of the fate of the 3,000 idolaters who prayed at the golden calf while Moses conversed with God on Mount Sinai, and of the money-changers driven from the Temple by Jesus.
—
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2024
Throngs of idolaters gather just to watch the team buses arrive.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024
Of course, Moses is overcome when seeing the golden calf, breaks the tablets, and then commends the Levites for punishing the idolaters (32:19, 26‒29).
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2023
The personification of those enthusiasms was the composer John Cage—a student of Schoenberg, a devotee of Eastern thought, and an idolater of Duchamp.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022
His Wagner book, which placed its subject in the larger intellectual context of his times, infuriated idolaters, for whom the master could do no wrong.
—Margalit Fox, New York Times, 18 May 2016
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2024
Throngs of idolaters gather just to watch the team buses arrive.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024
Of course, Moses is overcome when seeing the golden calf, breaks the tablets, and then commends the Levites for punishing the idolaters (32:19, 26‒29).
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2023
The personification of those enthusiasms was the composer John Cage—a student of Schoenberg, a devotee of Eastern thought, and an idolater of Duchamp.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022
His Wagner book, which placed its subject in the larger intellectual context of his times, infuriated idolaters, for whom the master could do no wrong.
—Margalit Fox, New York Times, 18 May 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idolater
pagan
Noun
-
Samhain is also celebrated in Salem by the local pagan and witch communities, who often share their traditions with curious out-of-towners.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
-
In the Book of Acts, the pagans of Athens gathered to hear the gospel preached by Paul.—
Brooke L. Rollins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idolater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idolater. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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