as in faction
a group of people acting together within a larger group
one sect of medical researchers holds the minority view that the disease is not caused by that virus
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Recent Examples of sect
The Brotherhood bears some resemblance to the Bruderhof, a tiny Christian pacifist sect founded in Germany in the nineteen-twenties that left its country of origin and spread around the globe in response to Nazi Fascism.
—
Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Kōetsu’s artistic community of craftsmen was supported by wealthy merchant patrons of the Nichiren Buddhist sect at Takagamine.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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
With Ao Bing’s spirit now in Ne Zha’s body, the two manage a truce with dragons to venture to the land of the heavenly Chan sect and complete three tasks that will grant them immortality and restore Ao Bing’s body.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sect
Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Kōetsu’s artistic community of craftsmen was supported by wealthy merchant patrons of the Nichiren Buddhist sect at Takagamine.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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
With Ao Bing’s spirit now in Ne Zha’s body, the two manage a truce with dragons to venture to the land of the heavenly Chan sect and complete three tasks that will grant them immortality and restore Ao Bing’s body.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sect
Noun
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Arafat led the Fatah movement and was the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, a sometimes unwieldy umbrella group of various Palestinian factions, ranging from outright Marxist to avowedly Islamist and everything in between.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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An escape plan is hatched, leading to a breaking of factions, betrayals, and a shocking confrontation.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Many of the amendments are likely to spark infighting among Republicans as the party battles over whether to become more isolationist in the face of skepticism about assisting foreign countries.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
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Investigators said that parties involved in the argument were leaving the indoor amusement park when Reed assaulted an employee, unprovoked, while making his way outside.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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More interestingly, the staff begins to spread its wings when granted opportunities to report.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Since many of their resources are tied to backcourt players, the Kings are sorely lacking in athletic wings/forwards who can bolster their defense.—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Even rarer these days is a repeater that does not show its gongs and hammers on the dial side.—
Carol Besler,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sect. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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