ACOLYTES Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

acolytes

noun

plural of acolyte

as in adherents

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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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 acolytes Deafheaven have long balanced playful disdain for black metal purism with a deeper understanding of the genre than either critics or acolytes of 2013’s Sunbather gave them credit for. — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026 The best O’Hara acolytes are the ones who encourage us to see the beauty in the world, attuned to torsos on a New York Street or the majesty of making eggs for a loved one. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Manson, who died in prison in 2017, ruled his acolytes with psychological and physical abuse. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 The second, a runway show in February, expanded upon its connection to new money by fashioning buff male models as oligarchs and über thin female ones as their party girl acolytes. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026 Newsom and other governors have repeatedly denied parole to his closest acolytes, though an appeals court overturned Newsom’s veto of the release of Leslie Van Houten in 2023. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 When the dazed young woman reels off quotes from an obscure self-help book, her new acolytes take her words as gnomic wisdom. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 The park attracts Dolly acolytes from around the world and is also a major source of revenue for the region. — CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 Two of her longtime video-art acolytes, David and Piper Cort, became her caregivers, inviting her to live in a trailer on their property in Massachusetts. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for acolytes

Noun

Since the administration kicked off its anti-AI doomerism social media campaign, taking particular aim at EA and its adherents’ belief that AI carries a high risk of ending humanity—anti-AI sentiment seems to have grown.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
When brutal rationalism is challenged, especially by traditionalists, its defenders will often justify themselves by pointing to the intelligence of its adherents.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of adherents

Noun

First was comic and content creator, George Brett Olson, who did a breakdown (watch it below) accusing an AI Instagram account with 300,000 followers of seemingly ripped off his joke word for word.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
The series has nearly 1 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of followers

Noun

In particular, Greek mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras and his disciples may have associated beans with reincarnation, so some thought eating them was technically an act of cannibalism.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
In the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples take part in those pilgrimages.

— Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of disciples

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acolytes

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“Acolytes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acolytes. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of acolytes

noun

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