Cult
noun
A religious or spiritual group which is small compared to the world's mainstream religions.
The members of the cult believed their leader was a reincarnation of an ancient deity.
Often appears as...
- join a cult
- cult leader
noun
A group of people devoted to a particular person or thing, particularly in a way that is considered extreme or strange.
The singer's cult following will travel across the world to see him perform.
Often appears as...
- cult following
- cult status
noun
A system or community regarded as unorthodox or secretive.
The secretive technology company was sometimes described as a cult.
Often appears as...
- cult practices
- cult mentality
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A religious or spiritual group which is small compared to the world's mainstream religions.
The members of the cult believed their leader was a reincarnation of an ancient deity.
Often appears as...
- join a cult
- cult leader
noun
A group of people devoted to a particular person or thing, particularly in a way that is considered extreme or strange.
The singer's cult following will travel across the world to see him perform.
Often appears as...
- cult following
- cult status
noun
A system or community regarded as unorthodox or secretive.
The secretive technology company was sometimes described as a cult.
Often appears as...
- cult practices
- cult mentality
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Small Group
A 'cult' refers to a small religious group, not widely recognized.
Their practices differed from the larger church, so they formed a cult.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotations
The term 'cult' can imply disapproval and suggest strange practices.
Critics often refer to the group as a dangerous cult.
Pro Tip 1/2Small Group
A 'cult' refers to a small religious group, not widely recognized.
Their practices differed from the larger church, so they formed a cult.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotations
The term 'cult' can imply disapproval and suggest strange practices.
Critics often refer to the group as a dangerous cult.
Pro Tip 1/2Small Group
A 'cult' refers to a small religious group, not widely recognized.
Their practices differed from the larger church, so they formed a cult.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotations
The term 'cult' can imply disapproval and suggest strange practices.
Critics often refer to the group as a dangerous cult.
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Video examples
Filming Antarctica's...
this spot that we haven't we had no idea if it was going to work he had no idea it's going to work and he had just got it so beautifully right because the bridal cult just came down through in the wide shot and hit the ground in the close-up it just moved through and you could just see
Video examples
What is love? - Brad...
A cult? A neurological phenomenon? There's no shortage of answers. Some are all-encompassing. It conquers all. It's all you need. It's all there is. These are all comparisons, though, ways of defining it by contrast, by saying it's more important
Video examples
Inside the bizarre world...
to march with torches in the name of the white race. She'd gone, in a few months, from Obama supporter to fully radicalized white supremacist. Now, in her particular case, she actually was able to find her way out of the cult of white supremacy.
Video examples
Charmian Gooch: Meet...
Now, he really loved to issue presidential decrees. And one renamed the months of the year including after himself and his mother. He spent millions of dollars creating a bizarre personality cult, and his crowning glory was the building
Video examples
Skinheads Recruiting...
america's youth are listening kids are vulnerable they're impressionable you can give them a world view at that stage in life that they will act on pretty convincingly for a long long time i mean any cult recruits at that age
Video examples
Lost Tomb of Alexander PIPE...
cult of Alexander was driven underground his great tomb was forgotten or torn down leaving no clue as to the whereabouts of his body I think one of the real possibilities was that he was protected by people who still believed
Video examples
Small Town Terrorism PIPE...
taking over the county government to help them win the next election the cult recruited homeless people from across the country they brought literally thousands of people in and the idea was that they
Video examples
Self-Proclaimed Jesus PIPE...
the world will soon end that he is their only route to heaven but who joins a cult like this and how do the members live for God to bring a plague other Masonic cult leaders have predicted the
Video examples
Why do people join...
It's important to note two things about them. First, not all cults are religious. Some are political, therapy-based, focused on self-improvement, or otherwise. And on the flip side,
Video examples
Learning other languages...
cult Hong Kong ok now for those of you who didn't understand that I said attention please close the door it's too cold thank you so I yeah I said you know
Video examples
Filming Antarctica's...
this spot that we haven't we had no idea if it was going to work he had no idea it's going to work and he had just got it so beautifully right because the bridal cult just came down through in the wide shot and hit the ground in the close-up it just moved through and you could just see
Video examples
What is love? - Brad...
A cult? A neurological phenomenon? There's no shortage of answers. Some are all-encompassing. It conquers all. It's all you need. It's all there is. These are all comparisons, though, ways of defining it by contrast, by saying it's more important
Video examples
Inside the bizarre world...
to march with torches in the name of the white race. She'd gone, in a few months, from Obama supporter to fully radicalized white supremacist. Now, in her particular case, she actually was able to find her way out of the cult of white supremacy.
Video examples
Charmian Gooch: Meet...
Now, he really loved to issue presidential decrees. And one renamed the months of the year including after himself and his mother. He spent millions of dollars creating a bizarre personality cult, and his crowning glory was the building
Video examples
Skinheads Recruiting...
america's youth are listening kids are vulnerable they're impressionable you can give them a world view at that stage in life that they will act on pretty convincingly for a long long time i mean any cult recruits at that age
Video examples
Lost Tomb of Alexander PIPE...
cult of Alexander was driven underground his great tomb was forgotten or torn down leaving no clue as to the whereabouts of his body I think one of the real possibilities was that he was protected by people who still believed
Video examples
Small Town Terrorism PIPE...
taking over the county government to help them win the next election the cult recruited homeless people from across the country they brought literally thousands of people in and the idea was that they
Video examples
Self-Proclaimed Jesus PIPE...
the world will soon end that he is their only route to heaven but who joins a cult like this and how do the members live for God to bring a plague other Masonic cult leaders have predicted the
Video examples
Why do people join...
It's important to note two things about them. First, not all cults are religious. Some are political, therapy-based, focused on self-improvement, or otherwise. And on the flip side,
Video examples
Learning other languages...
cult Hong Kong ok now for those of you who didn't understand that I said attention please close the door it's too cold thank you so I yeah I said you know
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
English Actress
I suppose the cult of the strong woman character on TV has probably been misinterpreted in so many different ways, meaning that a woman can't be emotionally complicated or want things or can't be weak in moments.
Quote examples
Katherine Dunn
American Novelist
The second is the structure and source of cults. They have always haunted me, and I wanted to explore the fundamental notion of giving up responsibility to an outside power.
Quote examples
Max Lerner
American Journalist
Despite the success cult, men are most deeply moved not by the reaching of the goal but by the grandness of the effort involved in getting there - or failing to get there.
Quote examples
Amanda Harlech
English Writer
Our idea of happiness, some of it, is very tied to the cult of celebrity: there is this golden, wonderful life that I want, and if I dress like that, I'm on my way there.
Quote examples
Fareed Zakaria
American Journalist
What happens in the media is the cult of personality. The brands who have been forced to cut their staff have been forced to take on the brands of journalists.
Quote examples
Keith Henson
American Scientist
Even small cults are a serious cost on the world economy, to victims, their families, employers, friends, and credit-card companies.
Quote examples
Sarah Edmondson
Canadian Actress
That's really the nature of how cults get you - by starting slow, promising to help you realize your goals.
Quote examples
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
The star system, the idol, the cult of personality is not the only way to be in entertainment.
Quote examples
Mase
American Musician
I would say 'Harlem World' is a cult and at the end we're gonna have everybody believin'.
Quote examples
Ramzan Kadyrov
Chechen Politician
Personality cults are an insult to Islam.
Quote examples
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
English Actress
I suppose the cult of the strong woman character on TV has probably been misinterpreted in so many different ways, meaning that a woman can't be emotionally complicated or want things or can't be weak in moments.
Quote examples
Katherine Dunn
American Novelist
The second is the structure and source of cults. They have always haunted me, and I wanted to explore the fundamental notion of giving up responsibility to an outside power.
Quote examples
Max Lerner
American Journalist
Despite the success cult, men are most deeply moved not by the reaching of the goal but by the grandness of the effort involved in getting there - or failing to get there.
Quote examples
Amanda Harlech
English Writer
Our idea of happiness, some of it, is very tied to the cult of celebrity: there is this golden, wonderful life that I want, and if I dress like that, I'm on my way there.
Quote examples
Fareed Zakaria
American Journalist
What happens in the media is the cult of personality. The brands who have been forced to cut their staff have been forced to take on the brands of journalists.
Quote examples
Keith Henson
American Scientist
Even small cults are a serious cost on the world economy, to victims, their families, employers, friends, and credit-card companies.
Quote examples
Sarah Edmondson
Canadian Actress
That's really the nature of how cults get you - by starting slow, promising to help you realize your goals.
Quote examples
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
The star system, the idol, the cult of personality is not the only way to be in entertainment.
Quote examples
Mase
American Musician
I would say 'Harlem World' is a cult and at the end we're gonna have everybody believin'.
Quote examples
Ramzan Kadyrov
Chechen Politician
Personality cults are an insult to Islam.
Example 1 of 10
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