as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group
one sect of medical researchers holds the minority view that the disease is not caused by that virus
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Recent Examples of sects
Islam has two major sects that are often in conflict.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
His ideas precipitated a tectonic crisis of political legitimacy and unleashed a series of continent-wide wars, sometimes featuring millenarian protocommunist sects like the Anabaptists, who sought to overthrow the social order.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Out of this ethical fog has risen a Silicon Valley theology, split into warring sects.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the spiritual significance of relics even if some teachers have tried to shift the focus to Buddha's teachings that emphasize mindfulness and kindness.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Some Buddhist teachers emphasize Buddha’s teachings of mindfulness over relic veneration, creating different approaches to these sacred objects across various sects.
—Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Their ideology spilled across countries and continents and even reached other Islamic sects, including rival Sunnis.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Sharia is the moral code for followers of Islam, but the interpretation and administration varies based on different sects, communities, countries and individuals, according to the Council for American-Islamic Relations.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
But this year, Christian leaders across sects—including Catholics, Evangelicals, and Baptists—sounded the alarm on AI’s potential impact on family, human relationships, labor, and the church itself.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
His ideas precipitated a tectonic crisis of political legitimacy and unleashed a series of continent-wide wars, sometimes featuring millenarian protocommunist sects like the Anabaptists, who sought to overthrow the social order.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Out of this ethical fog has risen a Silicon Valley theology, split into warring sects.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Most Buddhist sects acknowledge the spiritual significance of relics even if some teachers have tried to shift the focus to Buddha's teachings that emphasize mindfulness and kindness.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Some Buddhist teachers emphasize Buddha’s teachings of mindfulness over relic veneration, creating different approaches to these sacred objects across various sects.
—Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Their ideology spilled across countries and continents and even reached other Islamic sects, including rival Sunnis.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Sharia is the moral code for followers of Islam, but the interpretation and administration varies based on different sects, communities, countries and individuals, according to the Council for American-Islamic Relations.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
But this year, Christian leaders across sects—including Catholics, Evangelicals, and Baptists—sounded the alarm on AI’s potential impact on family, human relationships, labor, and the church itself.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sects
Noun
-
The government attempted to reconcile the hodgepodge of leftist ideologies and micro-factions through the testimony of Kyle Shideler, a director and senior analyst at the Center for Security Policy, a far-right think tank.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Gulf states stressed that attacks launched from Iraqi territory by armed factions and proxies loyal to Iran were a particular grievance, and a breach of international law.—
Holly Ellyatt,Emma Graham,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After the Academy Awards earlier this month, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and superstar singer Taylor Swift attended some post-Oscars parties.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Perhaps the parties involved will take Kay’s advice, join forces, and find a way to make watching sports a little easier sometime soon.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sects. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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