adherent 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of adherentnext
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
But revolutions have a way of devouring some of their early and most eager adherents. — Jackie Snow, Quartz, 10 Mar. 2025 The problem for many MAGA adherents, though, was accepting the very notion of immigrants telling them America needs more immigration to fill lucrative jobs in America. — Zachary Basu, Axios, 26 Dec. 2024 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
  • 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
  • The booze, fittingly, ate through the adhesive inside the sculptures, threatening to dribble out.
    — Zoë Lescaze, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of adhesive
Noun
  • Among the pieces are two sketches of the 12 apostles (the disciples of Jesus in the New Testament), which Pope Julius II, who commissioned the work, wanted Michelangelo to include in the upper corners of the ceiling, but whose likeness was ultimately scrapped by the artist.
    — Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Ayo: Oli, that comparison to City is interesting, with Maresca being a disciple of Guardiola, but also Guardiola being a coach who loves to control matches.
    — Emile Nuh, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Definition of disciple
Adjective
  • Best Times to Visit The best time to visit Nicaragua is between mid-November and April, when the country's delightful dry season brings clear skies, and temperatures are more springlike than sticky.
    — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2025
  • His defense on Ashworth in the second half was superb, sticky and lacking in no detail.
    — Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of sticky
Noun
  • While the Willis family has maintained his privacy since sharing his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2023, Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore shared several intimate photos with her social media followers in honor of his special day.
    — Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Once the British-Ghanaian expat shared her journey on social media, she was flooded with questions from followers wanting to follow in her footsteps.
    — Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of follower
Noun
  • 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
  • Peter, though revered as an apostle worthy of veneration, is also portrayed in the Gospels as prone to mistakes, often foolish, and sometimes outright contradictory to God’s will.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of apostle
Noun
  • 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
  • Dozens of Khalil supporters showed up at the New Jersey courtroom, necessitating an overflow room for those who wanted to watch the proceedings.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of supporter
Noun
  • His maternal grandparents were medical missionaries in Liberia, helping to ignite Fuller’s interest in medicine, Branson said.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The wife of a Minnesota missionary killed in the African country of Angola last year has been charged with his murder, the lead pastor of the Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes confirmed in a letter to his congregation.
    — Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 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 31 Mar. 2025.

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