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 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
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
-
So when the first children in the commune were born, factions emerged around which language the next generation should speak.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
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Members of the caucus emerged from a two-hour meeting on Thursday declaring that the 47-member group is coalescing around a unified strategy rather than splintering into factions, which could mean the government funding fight lasts well beyond the current 37 days.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Say, for example, that a restaurant’s menu states that an automatic 18% charge will be added to all bills for parties of six or more customers.—
Cheryl Winokur Munk,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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While no blame was assigned, the hearings were open to the public and often gave interested parties, including family members of the person killed, their first opportunity for answers.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sects. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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