as in witches
someone who is believed in some cultures to be able to use magic to cure people who are sick, to control future events, etc.
went to the shaman for a remedy
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Recent Examples of shamans
Carved from whale bones, reindeer antlers and walrus tusks, these fierce talismans are vengeful spirits traditionally created by shamans to destroy enemies.
—
R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Researchers believe the structures served as elite burial sites for leaders, priests, or shamans, challenging earlier assumptions that Funnelbeaker societies were strictly egalitarian.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
By 1901, just seventeen years after contact with the outside world, shamans were cutting their hair, getting baptized, and taking Danish Christian names.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Their society was hierarchical, with those below the caciques known as the nitaínos (elites), behiques (perhaps shamans), and the naborías (usually servants and commoners).
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
They are known as witches or evil shamans with the ability to shape-shift into animals or other people and are both feared and respected.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Warriors, shamans and village leaders were placed in a seated position above a burning fire for months at a time, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
As niche as that plot may sound, its story is rooted in Korean tradition, where many shamans in Korea, who tend to be women, perform various rituals to chase demons away from a household or home.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
In the world of KPop Demon Hunters, the jeoseung saja are the demons that K-pop girl groups, and female shamans before them, have worked to keep at bay for generations.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Researchers believe the structures served as elite burial sites for leaders, priests, or shamans, challenging earlier assumptions that Funnelbeaker societies were strictly egalitarian.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
By 1901, just seventeen years after contact with the outside world, shamans were cutting their hair, getting baptized, and taking Danish Christian names.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Their society was hierarchical, with those below the caciques known as the nitaínos (elites), behiques (perhaps shamans), and the naborías (usually servants and commoners).
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
They are known as witches or evil shamans with the ability to shape-shift into animals or other people and are both feared and respected.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Warriors, shamans and village leaders were placed in a seated position above a burning fire for months at a time, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
As niche as that plot may sound, its story is rooted in Korean tradition, where many shamans in Korea, who tend to be women, perform various rituals to chase demons away from a household or home.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
In the world of KPop Demon Hunters, the jeoseung saja are the demons that K-pop girl groups, and female shamans before them, have worked to keep at bay for generations.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shamans
Noun
-
Dakota Johnson plays a young dancer who finds herself in a German company run by witches, including Tilda Swinton as the austere Madame Blanc.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
James Franco headlined the film in the title role opposite Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz as the witches of Oz.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Musicians, face painters, magicians, caricature artists, and aerial acrobats show off their creativity and entertain the masses.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Again, sourced by the archival magicians Raffe Vintage.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Only the best of the bat-to-ball wizards can build a career in the majors.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Everything culminates in a climactic scene in the Shrieking Shack, where the truth about the two Animagi (wizards who can turn into animals) is revealed, plus Sirius Black (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) comes clean as a friend of Harry’s parents who can also turn into a black dog.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The land of sorcerers, dragons and savagery played out across eight gripping series, drawing millions of viewers into the fictional worlds of Westeros, Essos, and beyond.—
Connor Sturges,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
For the most part, the initial sorcerers who make agentic AI a workplace standard will be chief information officers, chief technology officers, and businesspeople who have a deep understanding of technology.—
Bipul Sinha,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Wizards, or mages (as the group has commonly referred to Eleven), develop their powers using arcane magic to cast powerful spells.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Yennefer is now spearheading a new alliance of mages and elves operating out of The Lodge.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Our conjure drives the cinematic imagination of Americans like the hags who ride our backs during our darkest nightmares.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Rather than hang out with the two old hags, Cherry decides to try her luck on the stand-up paddleboards with Brigitte and Daniel, but quickly loses her balance.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shamans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamans. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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