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
So while some Barnes students rebelled, others became acolytes.
—
Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
Often imitated but never duplicated, this show’s universal influence has stood the test of time more than any other title on this list and continues to be reinterpreted and reinvented for both new fans and older acolytes.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The second night, the Manson acolytes killed Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in similar fashion, leaving bloody ominous messages on walls and over doorways.
—TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
Where Musk and his acolytes see speed and efficiency, Democratic lawmakers see corruption.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
If Alexander was the progenitor of the messianic imperialism that Putin expresses today, Alexander’s most imaginative acolytes were poets and novelists, not his court propagandists.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Watching Elon Musk and his band of young acolytes slash their way through the federal government, many observers have struggled to understand how such a small group could do so much damage in so little time.
—Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
His modest house on Cape Cod, for instance, has been made into an exquisite museum, attracting a constant stream of acolytes, at least in the summer months.
—Lisa Brown, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Key to his effort is a small army of acolytes, most prominently young men with backgrounds in tech, being dispatched across government agencies and demanding access to databases that are usually only available to a small number of regulated and trained employees at each agency.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025
Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
Often imitated but never duplicated, this show’s universal influence has stood the test of time more than any other title on this list and continues to be reinterpreted and reinvented for both new fans and older acolytes.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The second night, the Manson acolytes killed Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in similar fashion, leaving bloody ominous messages on walls and over doorways.
—TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
Where Musk and his acolytes see speed and efficiency, Democratic lawmakers see corruption.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
If Alexander was the progenitor of the messianic imperialism that Putin expresses today, Alexander’s most imaginative acolytes were poets and novelists, not his court propagandists.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Watching Elon Musk and his band of young acolytes slash their way through the federal government, many observers have struggled to understand how such a small group could do so much damage in so little time.
—Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
His modest house on Cape Cod, for instance, has been made into an exquisite museum, attracting a constant stream of acolytes, at least in the summer months.
—Lisa Brown, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Key to his effort is a small army of acolytes, most prominently young men with backgrounds in tech, being dispatched across government agencies and demanding access to databases that are usually only available to a small number of regulated and trained employees at each agency.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acolytes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acolytes. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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