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Definition of cultish
cultish
/ˈkʌl.tɪʃ/
cul · tish
Adverb:cultishly
cultish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
Syllables
2
cultish Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• adjective
1
Characteristic of or resembling a religious or social cult, especially in exhibiting extreme, unquestioning devotion to a leader, brand, or ideology.
Example
"Critics noted that the startup's corporate culture had taken on a cultish atmosphere, demanding total loyalty from employees."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for cultish Antonyms
View all antonyms for cultishWord Nuance & Usage
'Cultish' carries a strong pejorative connotation implying blind conformity or fanaticism, whereas 'cultic' is a neutral academic term used in religious studies and anthropology to describe ritual worship practices.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the early 20th century from 'cult' (from Latin 'cultus', meaning 'care, cultivation, or worship', from 'colere', 'to inhabit or cultivate') combined with the English suffix '-ish'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cultish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cultish