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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Recent Examples of acolytes
The deep dive into the Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein director, who will turn 100 in June, features interviews with collaborators and acolytes like Rob Reiner and Judd Apatow, who recount his spectacular rise to fame and enormous influence.
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Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
And Pettigrew, one of Voldemort’s creepy acolytes, is revealed to be magically hiding in plain sight as Ron Weasley’s pet rat Scabbers for most of the book.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Trump’s acolytes and enablers have adopted this line, seemingly as a matter of reflex.
—Eric Lutz, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
Voters rejected Maduro and his acolytes in July 2024, with close to 70 percent of the vote going to González, and indirectly Machado.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The event was co-opted as a starring vehicle for the president with acolytes as co-stars.
—Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Seeking religious freedom, Lee fled England with a small group of acolytes in 1774.
—Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
In the course of ordinary events, a novelist expects, however grudgingly, to compete with rivals, even acolytes.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Similarly, one or two wild-eyed acolytes can get a movie nominated.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acolytes
Noun
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Lawyers for the Satanic Temple argued that these restrictions conflict with the religious practices of its Hoosier adherents.—
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The movement had adherents among the student body and on the faculty at the Catholic University in Chiclayo, which has about ten thousand students, and the cathedral boasted an enormous portrait of Josemaria Escrivá, Opus Dei’s sainted founder.—
Noun
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As her own beliefs begin to take idiosyncratic shape, Lee begins to engage a few followers.—
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Her followers got a better look at her spacious kitchen's wooden cabinetry and light fixtures behind them.—
Noun
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Among his fellow disciples of Sigmund Freud, Alexander was a bit of an outlier.—
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Several teams throughout the league have searched for disciples of the Shanahan scheme to run their offenses, while several are running versions of a defense that Fangio has perfected.—
Cite this Entry
“Acolytes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acolytes. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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