religion

noun

ri-ˈli-jən How to pronounce religion (audio)
Definition of religionnext
1
as in cult
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities the Jewish religion has followers in many parts of the globe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faith
belief and trust in and loyalty to God without his religion, he would not have been able to survive all the difficulties he has faced over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 religion Before the trial, the judge blocked prosecutors from presenting evidence related to Santería, the Afro-Caribbean religion with roots in the Yoruba faith that incorporates some Catholic elements. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 These findings suggest that the audience for conversations about the soul is not shrinking, but shifting away from organized religion and toward more personal, improvisational forms of seeking. — Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026 There is nothing in the religion that is inherently anti-vaccine, but historically, their vaccination rates have been lower than those of the general population, Goldman said. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026 Cases on religion, elections and immigration are likely to take the spotlight. — Julian Mark, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for religion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for religion
  1. cult
  2. faith
  3. persuasion
  4. devotion
  5. creed
  6. sect
Noun
  • One of the first people cast on the show is Jeff Hays, a regular at Crossroads Comics and Art, the voice of the DCC audiobooks and fandom celebrity with a cult following.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Steven Spielberg is returning to Paramount’s cult Transformers franchise alongside longtime producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and with Michael Bay, long a master of mayhem, in talks to possibly direct the next tentpole for fanboys of vehicles.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of cult
Noun
  • That unease is eroding faith in political leaders and fueling calls for upheaval across the spectrum, from young conservatives to students backing progressive challengers in Michigan.
    — Jacqueline Ganun, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Returning to those stocks is a real leap of faith, but Best Buy has been moving up nicely.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of faith
Noun
  • But those previously mentioned four skills where superhuman performance could suffice to kill all humans (hacking, persuasion, planning and coordination, uninterpretable reasoning) mean that generalization matters only so much.
    — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • As such, the narratives constructed by mainstream media outlets are not mere reflections of events but active tools of persuasion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of persuasion
Noun
  • As Nicole refuses the role she’s been taught to play, her mother is forced to confront the cost of building a life around a man who demands devotion but can’t offer safety.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This is the main thrust of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother — when the rightful aim of that threefold devotion is gone, what fills the void?
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of devotion
Noun
  • The seven-word message became the Washington Commanders’ game-day creed in 2024 and has hung around ever since — literally.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Few eras of Greek history compare to the ancient times that the country has become so synonymous with—the cinematic fables of Odysseus, comic-book lore of Leonidas, and philosophic creeds of Socrates are ever-present in pop culture.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of creed
Noun
  • Featuring a mixture of stop-motion and 2D animation, the movie functions as a surrealist fairy-tale propaganda film produced by the leader of a fictional religious sect that uses the media as a form method for indoctrinating his followers.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The sect had at least 15 avoidable deaths among children from 2015 through 2025, according to healthcare professionals who reviewed their records for ProPublica.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sect

Browse Nearby Words

relights
religion
religionist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Religion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religion. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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