Thesaurus results for SHAMANS

shamans

noun

plural of shaman

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

Related 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 shamans The long history of psychedelics and religion is filled with scientists, anthropologists, mystics, shamans, outlaws, and prophets, but these two men are, more than any others, the patron saints of our current psychedelic revival. — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 Upon arrival, the girls find a community of ravers and psychedelic rockers, romantics and orgiastics, shamans who serve as doctors, and poets who believe themselves to be prophets. — Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026 Sci-fi blends with folklore as shamans stand in fields to anoint the new drone gods. — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 That means kicking off with the sacred mountain where shamans perform mudang rituals, the spiritual tradition at the heart of the storyline, and then using that inspiration to step into the soundproof studio to put your vocal chops to the test. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 Ochre figures of hunters, eland, and dancing shamans come into focus. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Along the way, travelers will meet local shamans, experience traditional llanero (cowboy) culture, and be led by a Mayan spiritual guide and archaeologist. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026 The shamans gathered by the sea on Herradura Beach in the Chorrillos district in Lima, Peru's capital, holding up posters of the two candidates. — ABC News, 1 June 2026 That being said, shamans are currently experiencing a moment in Korean pop culture that recontextualizes mu-dang as hip. — Kayti Burt, Time, 24 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shamans

Noun

A couple of passing witches in distressed fish-nets aww-ed at the sight of the dog begging for the second half of his cone.

— Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Meanwhile, fashions this fall look distinctly witchy, interest in tarot is on the rise, and Etsy witches are a mainstream phenomenon, offering spell-casting services on the online marketplace to summon up perfect weddings, love, or protection.

— Francesca Perry, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of witches

Noun

Houdini offers tribute to some magicians who preceded him and laments that more wasn't known about them.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
To achieve it, Cohen brought in specialists in prosthetics, animatronics and explosives, alongside magicians and world-famous psychologists.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of magicians

Noun

This earlier Russell work did not include acid queens, pinball wizards, or teenage-wasteland messiahs.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026
Produced by Hollywood stunt champs 87North, the hard-hitting wizards that have been redefining fight choreography since John Wick, Violent Night 2, like its predecessor, promises heaps of gory and satisfyingly kinetic fight scenes.

— Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of wizards

Noun

The film is set at Ironclaw Academy, a school where the animal companions of sorcerers – known as familiars – go through a demanding and frequently messy training regime.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
The Fore said that the disease was caused by secret attacks from sorcerers.

— Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of sorcerers

Noun

This young adult fantasy follows a 16-year-old who discovers a magical attack and realizes this new world of demons and mages has a connection to her mother’s death.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 July 2026
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

Definition of mages

Noun

The island village is beset by sea hags, serial killers, creepy clowns and other evils that interfere with Tom’s dream of turning Widow’s Bay into a Martha’s Vineyard-like tourist destination.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 17 June 2026
Martha’s Vineyard also has knife-wielding men in masks and creepy sea hags!

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Definition of hags

Browse Nearby Words

shamanists

shamans

shamble

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shamans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamans. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shamans

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes