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
Netflix has become the place for documentaries about true crime, but also documentaries about cults and sects.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
There have been reports in the media that some other ethnic sects in southern Lebanon have been allowed to stay despite evacuation orders.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
For one, Israel’s targeting and displacement of the Shiite community in southern Lebanon is likely to create friction among Lebanon’s various religious sects.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Shia Islam is the majority religion in Iran, but the constitution recognizes Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity as minority sects, with each represented in parliament.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
With 12 Christian sects, the country is home to the largest proportion of Christians of any nation in the Arab world.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Islam has two major sects that are often in conflict.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
His ideas precipitated a tectonic crisis of political legitimacy and unleashed a series of continent-wide wars, sometimes featuring millenarian protocommunist sects like the Anabaptists, who sought to overthrow the social order.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Out of this ethical fog has risen a Silicon Valley theology, split into warring sects.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
There have been reports in the media that some other ethnic sects in southern Lebanon have been allowed to stay despite evacuation orders.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
For one, Israel’s targeting and displacement of the Shiite community in southern Lebanon is likely to create friction among Lebanon’s various religious sects.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
Shia Islam is the majority religion in Iran, but the constitution recognizes Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity as minority sects, with each represented in parliament.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
With 12 Christian sects, the country is home to the largest proportion of Christians of any nation in the Arab world.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Islam has two major sects that are often in conflict.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
His ideas precipitated a tectonic crisis of political legitimacy and unleashed a series of continent-wide wars, sometimes featuring millenarian protocommunist sects like the Anabaptists, who sought to overthrow the social order.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Out of this ethical fog has risen a Silicon Valley theology, split into warring sects.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sects
Noun
-
During his first years in office, Hadi tried to implement wide-reaching reforms, including the unification of the country’s various armed factions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Why are nontraditional political parties and factions, many of them extremist, gaining strength in Europe and elsewhere?—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Paterson, New Jersey, will host a series of watch parties and cultural events to celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
Moskowitz, a former DeSantis appointee, pitched himself as a Democrat who is willing to call out both parties.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sects. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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