as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
a votary of the religious leader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 votary
His account of the violent neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party evokes antipathy: votaries of the far right have murdered immigrants and leftists, built deep links to Greek law enforcement that give greater latitude to their thuggery, and gained modest representation in the parliament.
—
Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
But the fate of the votary is to require and receive a constant renewal of faith.
—Jeff Weiss, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023
The Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker has long been a loud votary of progress.
—Samuel Moyn, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2018
Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
But the fate of the votary is to require and receive a constant renewal of faith.
—Jeff Weiss, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023
The Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker has long been a loud votary of progress.
—Samuel Moyn, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for votary
Noun
-
Health professionals must continue cultivating awareness of how some religious objections will be beneath the surface — difficult even for adherents to articulate — but nonetheless legitimate and motivating.—
Cory Anderson,
STAT,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Even some of its adherents were surprised Monday when the group launched a barrage of rockets and drones on Israeli positions across the border.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
She was regarded as the female Christ by her followers but accused of witchcraft by outsiders.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The age-old practice of saunas has captured the attention of the wellness zeitgeist, garnering a new generation of followers eager to tap into its benefits.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following the master's cremation, his disciples sifted through the cremains and found several colorful, pearly relics.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Hsing Yun had instructed disciples not to look for relics in his ashes.—
Deepa Bharath,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Votary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/votary. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
