as in factions
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 sects
But this year, Christian leaders across sects—including Catholics, Evangelicals, and Baptists—sounded the alarm on AI’s potential impact on family, human relationships, labor, and the church itself.
—
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
But Landor’s appeal is backed by dozens of 30 religious and civil rights groups from across the ideological spectrum and representing large and small sects.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Just like there are many sects of Judaism or Christianity, there are many ways to be Muslim.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
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
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
Frayne writes that some second- and third-century sects, such as the Encratites, Priscilliantists, and Manicheans, advocated against meat eating, typically as part of a broader asceticism that might also include celibacy.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2025
The cruelties of the Islamic State, or ISIS, seem less idiosyncratic when compared with those of some governments and sects in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
But Landor’s appeal is backed by dozens of 30 religious and civil rights groups from across the ideological spectrum and representing large and small sects.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Just like there are many sects of Judaism or Christianity, there are many ways to be Muslim.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
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
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
Frayne writes that some second- and third-century sects, such as the Encratites, Priscilliantists, and Manicheans, advocated against meat eating, typically as part of a broader asceticism that might also include celibacy.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2025
The cruelties of the Islamic State, or ISIS, seem less idiosyncratic when compared with those of some governments and sects in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sects
Noun
-
The split between the two factions is not ideological.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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In this way, Weather Twitter’s various factions and dramas mirror that of professional-sports discourse.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
None of the separatist political parties currently hold seats in the Alberta legislature.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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The settlement is still pending court approval, so for now, nothing is changing as the parties wait for a federal judge to review and ultimately approve the agreement.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sects. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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