as in religions
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
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 cults
She’s written about everything from orgasmic meditation cults to the racist origins of the pandemic.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
This all-new podcast takes listeners to the small town of Elberton, GA and on a wild ride through granite quarries, graves, cults, Confederate monuments, a swatting raid, and A LOT of explosives.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Viewers can expect coverage of alien conferences, crypto-cults and micronations.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
So if all those people who are joining cults would just join community theaters instead?
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
The documentary follows Christine Marie, a former fundamentalist who became an expert in cults, and her husband, Tolga Katas, embedding themselves among the Samuelite Group with the hopes of garnering evidence to bring to the police.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
Directed by Dretzin, False Prophet began in earnest with Christine Marie, a former fundamentalist who became an expert in cults, and her videographer husband, Tolga Katas, moving to Short Creek and embedding themselves amongst the local sect.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
The difference between the FLDS and most other cults is that people are born into it.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Young girls being swept away with various cults.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
This all-new podcast takes listeners to the small town of Elberton, GA and on a wild ride through granite quarries, graves, cults, Confederate monuments, a swatting raid, and A LOT of explosives.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Viewers can expect coverage of alien conferences, crypto-cults and micronations.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
So if all those people who are joining cults would just join community theaters instead?
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
The documentary follows Christine Marie, a former fundamentalist who became an expert in cults, and her husband, Tolga Katas, embedding themselves among the Samuelite Group with the hopes of garnering evidence to bring to the police.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
Directed by Dretzin, False Prophet began in earnest with Christine Marie, a former fundamentalist who became an expert in cults, and her videographer husband, Tolga Katas, moving to Short Creek and embedding themselves amongst the local sect.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
The difference between the FLDS and most other cults is that people are born into it.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Young girls being swept away with various cults.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cults
religions
Noun
-
There are views onto the peaks of the mountains that march towards Nepal and Tibet on the ancient pilgrimage route to Mt Kailash, the holiest of sites in four religions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
As one of the world's newest religions, the Baháʼí faith is also one of the fastest growing.—
Adam Duxter,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cults. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
