adherent

8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for adherent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person who supports a particular leader, party, religion or set of ideas.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

attached

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

follower supporter disciple believer clinging sticking

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

devotee

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person who supports a particular leader, party, religion or set of ideas.

“The movement claims several million adherents worldwide.”

follower supporter disciple devotee believer

Opposites

opponent critic detractor

2. adjective technical

Sticking fast to a surface or to another part.

“The bandage was adherent to the wound and had to be soaked off.”

clinging attached sticking

How to use adherent

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

adherents of the faith loyal adherent millions of adherents adherent cells

Formal. Common in religious, political and academic writing.

Etymology

From Latin adhaerentem, present participle of adhaerere 'to stick to', from ad- 'to' + haerere 'to stick'.

Full origin of adherent →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an adherent and a follower?

They are close, but adherent stresses commitment to a doctrine, faith or cause, while follower can be much looser — including someone who merely reads your posts. You would say adherents of Buddhism, but followers on Instagram.

Is it adherent or adherence?

Adherent is the person who sticks to something, or the adjective describing something that sticks. Adherence is the abstract noun for the act of sticking to a rule, treatment or belief: patient adherence to the medication was poor.

Can adherent be used about objects?

Yes, mainly in medical and technical writing, where it means physically stuck to something — adherent scar tissue, adherent cells in a culture dish.

People also searched

attached opponent sticking critic supporter believer follower disciple clinging devotee detractor

Nearby words

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