cultic
cultic Lexical Profile
cultic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or used in a system of religious worship, ritual, or liturgy, especially within ancient or traditional religions.
"Archaeologists uncovered several bronze vessels and stone altars at the ancient cultic site."
Of, relating to, or characteristic of an unorthodox, extremist, or fanatically devoted religious sect or social group.
"Sociologists examined the cultic dynamics that isolated the group's members from their families."
Word Nuance & Usage
In academic, archaeological, and theological contexts, 'cultic' is a neutral descriptive term referring to formal religious rites and worship practices, whereas 'cultish' is used in everyday language with a pejorative connotation to describe fanatical or insular groups.
• Rhymes for cultic
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 19th century from the noun 'cult' (from Latin 'cultus', meaning 'care, cultivation, or worship', derived from 'colere', 'to till or worship') combined with the adjective-forming suffix '-ic'.