as in psychics
a person who claims to speak with or for the spirits of the dead
the spiritualist claims merely to be the agency through which the spirit—or "control"—conveys its messages to the living
Synonyms & Similar 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 spiritualists
Disappointed with mainstream health care, Mihich sought help from energy healers, spiritualists, and other alternative-medicine practitioners and entrepreneurs, who regularly supported her aversion to psychiatric medications, according to Sarah and Torina.
—
Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
There was a big movement at the time — because so many people were killed in the Civil War, and so many women were losing children — of spiritualists, who were almost all women, who would speak to the dead.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
There was a big movement at the time — because so many people were killed in the Civil War, and so many women were losing children — of spiritualists, who were almost all women, who would speak to the dead.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiritualists
psychics
Noun
-
Terazawa is working on her second novel, Curse Him, a surreal and tense autofiction accounting for three summer months of being scammed by psychics in a small Appalachian town.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
For generations, people have turned to psychics, astrology charts or tarot cards for reassurance.—
Ziv Epstein,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiritualists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritualists. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
