Definition of religionnext
1
as in cult
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities the Jewish religion has followers in many parts of the globe

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2
as in faith
belief and trust in and loyalty to God without his religion, he would not have been able to survive all the difficulties he has faced over the years

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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 religion Beyond the clash between capitalism and communism as economic systems, a line is often drawn between communist ideology and religion in America, specifically Christianity. — Benjamin Stephen, Vox, 4 Nov. 2026 Having been brought up within the Catholic religion, the season and all of those traditions are very much ingrained in me. — Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026 Life in Chicago Days after becoming the heavyweight champion, Ali announced his conversion to the Nation of Islam, changed his name, and then relocated to Chicago, where the controversial religion’s headquarters are based. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2026 Finally, the defense argued that Bowers was incorrectly charged under hate-crime law, which applies to race but not religion. — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for religion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for religion
Noun
  • The promotional vending machine has sat along Virginia Avenue for almost 30 years, developing a cult following and becoming a tourist attraction for fans of a galaxy far, far away.
    — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Hesitating in the face of a death cult bent on going out with a bang, not a whimper, will only increase the human cost.
    — Khosro Isfahani, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Cui's arrest is the latest case in Chinese President Xi Jinping's long-running campaign to tighten control over religion to ensure all groups of faith abide by Communist Party rule.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • But his serious lapse in judgment will dent confidence in one of the world’s most consequential companies, at the very moment when investors have shown that their faith in the market’s AI growth story has limits.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • So fill a surface with words, more words and larger words than are necessary; fill a surface with something—anything—that achieves a minimal degree of individuation as well as commercial persuasion.
    — Alec Mapes-Frances, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Our elections should reward persuasion, not purchasing power.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Tesla’s Cybertruck, the hulking, stainless-steel pickup that inspired devotion and derision with its science-fiction looks, will cease production next year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The song conveys the perspective of someone wading into deep waters of enduring devotion, and longing to be the one someone leans on through the highs and lows.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Carson’s account of desire helps explain why this creed leads to two kinds of emptiness.
    — Stacy Keltner, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The seven-word message became the Washington Commanders’ game-day creed in 2024 and has hung around ever since — literally.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Ask the performers to recreate events or scenes from life in the sect with guidance and input from the ex-insiders.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Hood, a father of five who lives in Arkansas, is an Old Catholic priest, referring to a sect that broke with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1800s but still adheres to Catholic dogma.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Religion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religion. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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