sects

plural of sect
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sects Beyond wanting reform of existing religious options, these various sects differed greatly from each other. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Like other faith-healing sects, the Followers sought answers elsewhere. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 Grand jury testimony portrayed the shooting as a culmination of a longstanding feud between rival record labels — Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records — and rival gang sects Mob Piru and South Side Compton Crips. — Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 The initial proposal, debated since 2019, has exposed sectarian tensions among the country’s multitude of Islamic and Christian sects. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of pages of grand jury transcripts portray Tupac Shakur's shooting as a culmination of a longstanding feud between rival record labels Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records and rival gang sects Mob Piru and South Side Compton Crips. — CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 In 1642, the fifth Dalai Lama first unified Tibet by yoking the strength of Mongol forces, who razed the monasteries of rival sects, killing thousands. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026 The Christian religion was only tolerated in the communist dictatorship, and other religious sects were forbidden. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 11 June 2026 In an unrelated development, an umbrella group of Hasidic Jewish sects in Williamsburg endorsed Reynoso. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sects
Noun
  • With front lines frozen, infighting among pro-government factions — which had never been the happiest of allies — broke out into open war, causing a still-unresolved rift between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Zema has proposed classifying major criminal factions as terrorist organizations.
    — Katie Angell Britannica Editors Oct. 2, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • AccuPoint does not charge an application fee or accept compensation from firms or any other parties for inclusion on the Financial Advisor 100 list.
    — Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Daines and Merkley also want committee leaders to have a one-day fast-track for considering popular bills with strong committee support from both parties that would allow those bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sects. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster