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
Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the spiritual significance of relics, even if some teachers have tried to shift the focus to Buddha’s teachings that emphasize mindfulness and kindness.
—
Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the spiritual significance of relics even if some teachers have tried to shift the focus to Buddha's teachings that emphasize mindfulness and kindness.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Their ideology spilled across countries and continents and even reached other Islamic sects, including rival Sunnis.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
There is no single Sharia code, similar to how there is no single body of law for the hundreds of Christian sects throughout the world.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the spiritual significance of relics even if some teachers have tried to shift the focus to Buddha's teachings that emphasize mindfulness and kindness.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Their ideology spilled across countries and continents and even reached other Islamic sects, including rival Sunnis.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
There is no single Sharia code, similar to how there is no single body of law for the hundreds of Christian sects throughout the world.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sects
Noun
-
Boko Haram has since become stronger, with thousands of fighters and different factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, which is backed by the Islamic State group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Assassin’s Creed is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Although the Commission did a U-turn after the parties sweetened the deal, the episode underscored that merger outcomes can bind companies with social taxes that may undermine their commercial merits.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The approval comes as the parties are fighting bitterly over the policies of the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a funding lapse that is now in its 34th day.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sects. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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