as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
a highly influential economist whose acolytes can be found at many major universities
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acolyte
The White Lotus’s Leslie Bibb, whose red-carpet look from Ashi Studio also earned high marks, spent part of the evening laughing with fellow Ryan Murphy acolyte Sarah Paulson.
—
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
This spring is an exciting season for acolytes of contemporary art, because two of New York’s most important recurring survey shows will align, giving viewers a chance to engage with a broad swath of new work.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Two of the Senate candidates drawing the most enthusiasm from the left—Platner in Maine and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan—are Sanders acolytes.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
In casting his acolytes, Del Toro seeks the alchemy that only human minds and hands can accomplish building tangible worlds.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acolyte
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
This spring is an exciting season for acolytes of contemporary art, because two of New York’s most important recurring survey shows will align, giving viewers a chance to engage with a broad swath of new work.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Two of the Senate candidates drawing the most enthusiasm from the left—Platner in Maine and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan—are Sanders acolytes.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
In casting his acolytes, Del Toro seeks the alchemy that only human minds and hands can accomplish building tangible worlds.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acolyte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acolyte
Noun
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Leftism thus constitutes an ongoing search for new causes to fight on behalf of, in a way that mobilizes adherents and creates solidarity among them.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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Both romantic trends have adherents who spin their retreat from status quo romance as a kind of liberation from modern expectations, and who position their marital arrangement as the logical extension of a deeper political project.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And what struck me as really interesting is just how many members were part of these groups and how many of these groups there are, specifically on Reddit, some of which have upwards of a million followers.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Late last week, Lindsey Buckingham dropped a very tantalizing tidbit while speaking to his Instagram followers about his future plans.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples, marking the institution of Holy Communion and the washing of feet, symbolizing humility and service, according to the Presbyterian Church.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Last Supper with his disciples.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acolyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acolyte. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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