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adjective

Definition of adherentnext
Enter your own sentence containing adherent , and get words to replace it.
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as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact the bandage is made from a mildly adherent fiber

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adherent

2 of 2

noun

ad-ˈhir-ənt How to pronounce adherent (audio)
as in disciple
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another the Flat Earth Society surely doesn't have many adherents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word adherent different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of adherent are disciple, follower, and partisan. While all these words mean "one who gives full loyalty and support to another," adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

adherents to Marxism

When might disciple be a better fit than adherent?

Although the words disciple and adherent have much in common, disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

disciples of Gandhi

When can follower be used instead of adherent?

The meanings of follower and adherent largely overlap; however, follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

an evangelist and his followers

When is partisan a more appropriate choice than adherent?

The synonyms partisan and adherent are sometimes interchangeable, but partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

partisans of the President

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adherent
Adjective
With dry scalp, the flakes are likely to be whiter and smaller, and, says Dr. Gohara, since it’s not caused by an overabundance of oil, the flakes are not adherent. — Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023 If the patient stops taking their medication, the specialty pharmacist is not connected to the prescribing physician and has no way of knowing if the physician stopped prescribing the drug or if the patient is non-adherent. — Gary Drenik, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Noun
Trump supporters who are adherents of the Heritage Foundation’s 900-page Project 2025 policy guidebook backed a proposal to raise the retirement age from 67 to 69. — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025 Peter and Paul congregation, founded to provide a religious home for the city’s growing Christian Orthodox adherents after World War II. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for adherent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adherent
  1. adhesive
  2. disciple
  3. sticky
  4. follower
  5. apostle
  6. supporter
  7. missionary
Adjective
  • Classrooms frequently have adhesive bandages for small cuts and sometimes have ice packs.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • On affected vehicles, the cant rail stainless steel panel may delaminate at the adhesive joint, which may cause the panel to separate from the vehicle.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of adhesive
Noun
  • The Jaguars hope the Sean McVay and Les Snead disciples can orchestrate a turnaround similar to the Rams’ revival that began in 2017.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • In John 13, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, a task typically reserved for the lowest servant.
    — Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of disciple
Adjective
  • Pitchers were becoming too dominant with the sticky stuff.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Aphids excrete the sap as honeydew, leaving leaves sticky and susceptible to sooty mold.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of sticky
Noun
  • In lieu of discussions of who is best for the role artistically, the question becomes who will sell more tickets (Ivy has 3 million followers but TikTok influencers rally around Chloe) and create a less toxic workplace.
    — Christian Lewis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • According to Rolling Stone, the singer’s public profile is one of the eight followers, as well as SZA, producer Michael Uzowuru, singer girlsweetvoiced and audio engineer Sean Matsukawa.
    — DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of follower
Noun
  • There was speculation that the scene was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting The Last Supper, depicting Jesus’s last meal with the 12 apostles, which in turn sparked claims that the tableau was an insult to the Christian faith.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
  • So just how does an under 30 bro become an apostle of small business networking? Larsen grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and studied entrepreneurship at Boise State.
    — Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of apostle
Noun
  • The good news for supporters of seven of the Premier League’s 20 clubs is that their lads will play for a trip to Wembley Stadium in next month’s FA Cup semi-finals at some point over the weekend.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • About forty per cent of the graduates of the Army’s infantry officer schools, Peri notes, come from the dati leumi, or nationalist Orthodox minority, many of them extremist yeshiva students and supporters of settlements.
    — Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of supporter
Noun
  • Instead of forcing women to accept their message, missionaries encouraged voluntary reform.
    — Jenna Deep, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Alfredo Sosa/Staff In 1830, likely seeing it as a means of survival, a Shawnee chief invited a missionary to the reservation to help educate members of his tribe in the ways of white Americans.
    — Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of missionary

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Cite this Entry

“Adherent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adherent. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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