cultish
gb/kˈʌltɪʃ/ us/kˈʌltɪʃ/
C1
English
szektás, szektaszerű, kultikus
C1
1
szektás
B2
szektaszerű
C1
Usage pattern:
cultish [group/leader/belief/behavior]
The documentary shows how cultish the movement became once critics were labeled enemies.
A dokumentumfilm megmutatja, mennyire szektássá vált a mozgalom, amikor a kritikusokat ellenségnek bélyegezték.
Her friends worried about his cultish devotion to the guru’s teachings.
A barátai aggódtak a guru tanításai iránti már-már szektás odaadása miatt.
The group’s cultish attitude left no room for doubt or disagreement.
Learner examples
The club felt cultish to me.
A klub nekem szektásnak tűnt.
He showed cultish loyalty to the leader.
Szinte szektás hűséget mutatott a vezető iránt.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with cultural or cultivated; cultish relates to a cult.
Meaning
like a cult; obsessively devoted
Collocations
cultish group
|cultish leader
|cultish devotion
|cultish loyalty
|cultish behavior
|cultish followers
|cultish beliefs
|cultish mindset
|cultish atmosphere
|cultish rhetoric
Synonyms
fanatical (Emphasizes extreme enthusiasm; not necessarily tied to a group structure.)
|
zealous (Often suggests strong belief or commitment; can sound more formal.)
Antonyms
skeptical (Suggests questioning rather than unquestioning belief.)
|
independent-minded (Highlights personal judgment instead of group-think.)
Themes
society
|religion
|psychology
Definition
like a cult, with blind loyalty
Resembling a cult, especially in showing intense, unquestioning devotion to a leader, belief, or group.
C1
2
kultikus
B2
Usage pattern:
cultish [film/band/brand/series]
The show was canceled after one season but gained a cultish following online.
A sorozatot egy évad után elkaszálták, de az interneten kultikus rajongótáborra tett szert.
That indie game has a cultish appeal despite its rough graphics.
Annak az indie játéknak a kezdetleges grafikája ellenére is kultikus vonzereje van.
The album wasn’t a hit at first, but it slowly became cultish among collectors.
Learner examples
The movie has a cultish following.
A filmnek kultikus rajongótábora van.
This band is cultish but not famous.
Ez a zenekar kultikus, de nem igazán híres.
Common mistake:
Cultish here does not mean dangerous; it often just means 'with a cult following.'
Meaning
with a small devoted fanbase
Collocations
cultish appeal
|cultish fanbase
|cultish following
|cultish status
|cultish popularity
|cultish classic
|cultish reputation
|cultish hit
Synonyms
cult (Common in phrases like 'a cult film'; shorter and often more neutral.)
|
niche (Focuses on limited audience, not necessarily intense devotion.)
Antonyms
mainstream (Popular with a broad general audience.)
|
widely popular (Emphasizes broad appeal rather than a small devoted base.)
Themes
entertainment
|media
|marketing
Definition
liked a lot by a small group of fans
Having a small but very loyal and enthusiastic following, especially of fans of a film, book, band, product, or idea.
C1
3
szektaszerű
C1
szektás
B2
Usage pattern:
cultish [tactics/practices/culture]
Employees described the company’s cultish culture, where criticism was treated as betrayal.
Az alkalmazottak szektaszerűnek írták le a cég kultúráját, ahol a kritikát árulásnak tekintették.
The speaker used cultish tactics to pressure newcomers into donating money.
Az előadó szektaszerű taktikákkal gyakorolt nyomást az újonnan érkezőkre, hogy pénzt adományozzanak.
Her parents feared the program’s cultish practices would isolate her from family and friends.
Learner examples
The group used cultish tactics.
A csoport szektaszerű módszereket alkalmazott.
The workplace felt cultish and controlling.
A munkahely szektaszerűnek és túlzottan irányítónak tűnt.
Common mistake:
This sense is about methods and culture, not just strong interest.
Meaning
using cult-like control tactics
Collocations
cultish tactics
|cultish practices
|cultish culture
|cultish recruitment
|cultish messaging
|cultish indoctrination
|cultish control
|cultish pressure
Synonyms
manipulative (General term for controlling or influencing unfairly; not specifically cult-related.)
|
coercive (Emphasizes pressure and force; more formal.)
Antonyms
open (Encouraging transparency and questioning.)
|
noncoercive (Not using pressure or force.)
Themes
psychology
|work
|society
Definition
controlling in a cult-like way
Suggesting or involving manipulative, controlling practices associated with cults, such as isolating members or discouraging questioning.
C1
4
szektaszerű
C1
Usage pattern:
cultish [ceremony/ritual/vibe/scene]
The film opens with a cultish ceremony in the woods.
A film egy erdei, szektaszerű szertartással kezdődik.
The chanting gave the room a cultish vibe.
A kántálás szektaszerű hangulatot adott a szobának.
The novel’s cultish imagery makes the final chapter unsettling.
Learner examples
The scene felt cultish.
A jelenet szektaszerűnek hatott.
They described a cultish ritual.
Szektaszerű rituálét írtak le.
Meaning
eerie and ritual-like
Collocations
cultish ritual
|cultish ceremony
|cultish vibe
|cultish imagery
|cultish symbols
|cultish chants
|cultish scene
Synonyms
ritualistic (Neutral term focusing on ritual; not necessarily creepy.)
|
sinister (Stronger; emphasizes threatening or evil atmosphere.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Lacking strange or ritual-like qualities.)
|
straightforward (Clear and un-mysterious.)
Themes
arts
|emotions
|society
Definition
strange and ritual-like, like a cult
Having an eerie, secretive, or ritualistic feel that people associate with cults.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cultish
IPA
GB/kˈʌltɪʃ/
US/kˈʌltɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
cult - ish (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cult)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: cultish
- Comparative: cultisher
- Superlative: cultishest
Word family
Forms
cultisher
adjective
cultishest
adjective
Core family
cult
noun B2
cultist
noun
Related words
cultlike
adjective
Advanced or less common
cultic
adjective
cultism
noun
Expressions
cultish devotion
1/kˈʌltɪʃ dɪvˈoʊʃən/
fixed phrase
blind loyalty like a cult
very strong loyalty without questions
Examples
- The leader inspired cultish devotion among his followers.
- Her cultish devotion to the brand surprised even her friends.
- The article criticized the cultish devotion that shut down honest debate.
Learner examples
- He showed cultish devotion to the leader.
cultish following
1/kˈʌltɪʃ fˈɑloʊɪŋ/
fixed phrase
small, intensely loyal fanbase
a small group of very loyal fans
Examples
- The podcast has a cultish following that buys every piece of merch.
- That restaurant developed a cultish following after a celebrity mentioned it.
- The character’s cultish following kept the franchise alive for years.
Learner examples
- This game has a cultish following.
cultish vibe
1/kˈʌltɪʃ vˈaɪb/
fixed phrase
informal
atmosphere that feels cult-like
a feeling that something is like a cult
Examples
- The retreat had a cultish vibe, with chanting before every meal.
- Their meetings gave me a cultish vibe, so I stopped going.
- The music and lighting created a cultish vibe in the club.
Learner examples
- The meeting had a cultish vibe.