cult

A group that controls its members and pressures them to accept its beliefs and obey its leaders.

• She escaped from the cult.
• The cult leader controlled members' money.
• Why did he join that cult?

Common phrases: cult leader, join a cult, leave a cult

A group of people who strongly admire the same person, activity, or thing.

• The band attracted a small cult.
• A growing cult of fans collected her early recordings.
• He belonged to a cult of chess enthusiasts.

How to use it: cult of someone/something (A cult of dedicated fans grew around the singer.)

Similar words: following, fan base

Common phrases: cult of someone, small cult, growing cult

A religious group viewed as rejecting basic beliefs of the religion it claims to belong to.

• Critics described the group as a cult.
• The church considered its new teachings those of a cult.
• Members denied that their religious community was a cult.

Similar words: sect

Common phrases: religious cult, call something a cult, cult beliefs

The worship of a particular god or saint, including the ceremonies connected with it.

• The ancient cult honored a goddess.
• Roman officials promoted the imperial cult.
• The saint's cult spread across the region.

How to use it: cult of someone/something (The temple was a center of the cult of Isis.)

Similar words: worship, veneration

Common phrases: imperial cult, cult of someone, ancient cult

Loved by a small group of very loyal fans.

• It became a cult film.
• The band developed a cult following.
• Her first novel now has cult status.

Common phrases: cult film, cult classic, cult following