1
as in audience
a group of people showing intense devotion to a cause, person, or work (as a film)
long after it had gone off the air, the TV series continued to have a huge cult
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2
as in religion
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities
an ancient cult that centered on the worship of the earth as the source of all life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cult
Several of these involve a furtive religious cult known as the Scars — its adherents have a way of pussyfooting through the forest and doing absolutely horrible things to nonbelievers.
—
Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
According to Argentina prosecutor Fernando Arrigo, the pregnant woman may have been a victim of Rudnev’s Ashram Shambala, an organization described by Russian authorities as a cult.
—Betiana Fernández Martino and Hira Humayan, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
Lottie can’t fall through the branches of the pit, survives years out in the Wilderness, sets up her very own cult and then dies when an angry 17-year-old shoves her.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Parade and The Bridges of Madison County got him his awards, but The Last Five Years has amassed its cult following for good reason.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cult
Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
According to Argentina prosecutor Fernando Arrigo, the pregnant woman may have been a victim of Rudnev’s Ashram Shambala, an organization described by Russian authorities as a cult.
—Betiana Fernández Martino and Hira Humayan, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
Lottie can’t fall through the branches of the pit, survives years out in the Wilderness, sets up her very own cult and then dies when an angry 17-year-old shoves her.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Parade and The Bridges of Madison County got him his awards, but The Last Five Years has amassed its cult following for good reason.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cult
Noun
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The Second Vatican Council, a policymaking assembly that convened 60 years ago, aimed to make the church more accessible to a wider audience — a goal that many have compared to Francis' legacy.—
Liam Adams,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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Midway through the first season of Étoile, a lavish dramedy set in the realm of elite professional ballet, the greatest and most volatile dancer in the world uses her curtain call to address the audience.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His humble approach to people explains why many of us regardless of religion are saddened by the pope’s death.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2025
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Starting in the 1990s, the share of Americans who identified as Christian, or identified with any religion at all, began to drop precipitously.—
Christian Paz,
Vox,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cult. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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