as in cults
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities
the Jewish religion has followers in many parts of the globe
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Recent Examples of religions
Relatively few religions contain tenets forbidding vaccination.
—
Kirby Wilson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Can people with different cultures, different histories, or different religions live together in peace?
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Going further back, a sun disk hovered over the ancient Egyptian god Ra, and in Eastern religions a nimbus halo appeared over the Buddha and the Hindu deities.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In fact, as believing Christians, Jews, or Muslims know, the founders and leaders of these major world religions advocate understanding of others, empathy for their suffering, and the pursuit of peaceable relations with all.
—Howard Steele, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
There is a large mixture of cultures, religions, histories and experiences that are interesting to audiences beyond the region.
—Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
That’s far less likely in the Holy Land, where three religions claim the territory as sacred.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
And at Camp David, Carter prayed often and talked openly of faith with Begin and Sadat, unpacking ancient animosities between their religions.
—Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Images—the good ones, at least—are always richer than their official meanings, which is why so many religions police or ban them.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Kirby Wilson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Can people with different cultures, different histories, or different religions live together in peace?
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Going further back, a sun disk hovered over the ancient Egyptian god Ra, and in Eastern religions a nimbus halo appeared over the Buddha and the Hindu deities.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In fact, as believing Christians, Jews, or Muslims know, the founders and leaders of these major world religions advocate understanding of others, empathy for their suffering, and the pursuit of peaceable relations with all.
—Howard Steele, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
There is a large mixture of cultures, religions, histories and experiences that are interesting to audiences beyond the region.
—Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
That’s far less likely in the Holy Land, where three religions claim the territory as sacred.
—Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
And at Camp David, Carter prayed often and talked openly of faith with Begin and Sadat, unpacking ancient animosities between their religions.
—Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Images—the good ones, at least—are always richer than their official meanings, which is why so many religions police or ban them.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for religions
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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And Hezbollah, as the most heavily armed and violent element of Lebanon’s menagerie of factions and sects, wanted the guns without the responsibility.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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In Chinese myths, being an immortal can sort of feel like being a government employee — celestial bureaucracies make decisions that affect both the heavenly and mortal realms, and leaders of different immortal sects can engage in power plays and politics.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The new leader of Catholics in southeastern Michigan has been reaching out in recent weeks to a diverse range of leaders of different faiths to promote dialogue and find common ground with growing attention on the suffering in Gaza.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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What also makes the Rikers siddur different from others is the inclusion of writings by those of other faiths who have turned to Judaism while on the island.—
Marla Brown Fogelman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Religions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religions. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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