as in heathenism
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Recent Examples of paganism
Leland presented European material as the survival of an ancient pagan cult—moreover, a paganism that had been demonized by Christianity.
—
Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
The songs molded a claustrophobic, atmospheric universe out of blast beats, buzz-saw guitars and strangled shrieking, with misanthropic lyrics that explored bleakness, despair, paganism and coldness (both metaphorical and literal).
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Despite its allegorical significance about paganism, the snake myth has persisted unquestioned.
—Gemma Allen, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
All across Central Europe, a fascination with runes and folk magic aligns with both right-wing xenophobia and left-wing paganism.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paganism
Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
The songs molded a claustrophobic, atmospheric universe out of blast beats, buzz-saw guitars and strangled shrieking, with misanthropic lyrics that explored bleakness, despair, paganism and coldness (both metaphorical and literal).
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Despite its allegorical significance about paganism, the snake myth has persisted unquestioned.
—Gemma Allen, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
All across Central Europe, a fascination with runes and folk magic aligns with both right-wing xenophobia and left-wing paganism.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paganism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paganism
Noun
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Although Americans are rarely asked to weigh in on polytheism, surveys consistently show that not believing in God is among the biggest political liabilities—more electorally costly than being gay, Black, Jewish, Muslim, or female.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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The opera ends with Akhnaten’s son, presumably Tutankhamun, restoring polytheism, and then, once the staging jumps millennia into the future, it’s rediscovered by modern-day tourists.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Denise Long Rife spends her days as a retiree rather quietly, reading theology books in her Kansas home.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Women-only programs include administrative assistant, missionary wife, and general studies in the department of Bible, while the men-only alternatives are missions, youth ministry, and pastoral theology.—
Olivia Empson,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For all its moral and political weight, monotheism is surprisingly hard to pin down.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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Stasevska was born in 1984, the same year that Glass’ hypnotic, ritualistic opera, about an Egyptian pharaoh who dared to push monotheism onto his polytheistic culture, debuted in Stuttgart, Germany.—
Tim Greiving,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In 1809, Friedrich’s budding pantheism landed him in hot water.—
Zachary Fine,
The New Yorker,
28 June 2024
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If anyone is wondering, stoicism and pantheism are my preferred lenses through to view the world.—
Christa Allen,
Allure,
28 May 2021
Noun
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The Chinese Communists aren’t trying to extirpate every last trace of theism, thereby inviting the undivided opposition of religious believers and institutions (as the Soviets did with regard to John Paul II’s Vatican).—
Cameron Hilditch,
National Review,
21 Feb. 2021
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Thoreau moves fluidly between the two, shuttling between the divine and the here-and-now, between theism and materialism.—
Longreads,
Longreads,
13 July 2017
Noun
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But in refusing to allow it in Monaco, Albert joined other European Catholic royals who have taken a similar stand over the years to uphold Catholic doctrine on an increasingly secular continent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Those humanistic and critical values are, for Y, not merely some abstract doctrine but a vital aspect of his identity.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This vague gesture in the direction of deism has no antecedent in the book, no moral or theological trajectory to make Bambi’s insight meaningful or satisfying.—
Kathryn Schulz,
The New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2022
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Those intuitions usually commended a staid deism and scorn for those whose beliefs extended any further.—
Jeffrey Collins,
WSJ,
12 Mar. 2021
Noun
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In the face of dogma, science offered space for uncertainty.—
Annalisa Merelli,
STAT,
24 Mar. 2026
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Thinking big about free thought The Congressional Freethought Caucus, named for the philosophy prioritizing logic and reason over religious dogma, emerged from his disclosure.—
Alexei Koseff,
San Francisco Chronicle,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paganism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paganism. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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