Adherent — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ad-ˈhir-ənt/ ad·her·ent

Meaning & Definition of Adherent

Adherent (noun)

  1. one who adheres to something
  2. a follower of a leader, party, or profession
  3. a believer in or advocate especially of a particular idea or church

Adherent (adjective)

  1. able or tending to adhere
  2. connected or associated with especially by contract
  3. adnate

Adherent (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. tending to adhere to objects upon contact

    "the bandage is made from a mildly adherent fiber"

    similar: adhesive, clingy, gluey, glutinous, gummy, sticky, tacky, tenacious, viscid
    related: gelatinous, gooey, ropy, syrupy, viscous, pitchy, tarry
    opposite: nonadhesive
    near: nonviscous

Adherent (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who follows the opinions or teachings of another

    "the Flat Earth Society surely doesn't have many adherents"

    similar: acolyte, convert, disciple, epigone, follower, liege man, partisan, pupil, votarist, votary
    related: apostle, missionary, proselytizer, soldier, faithful, loyalist, advocate, backer, champion, supporter, protégé, scholar, student, ideologist, ideologue, sectarian, admirer, cultist, devotee, enthusiast, fan, idolater, worshipper, zealot, apparatchik, camp follower, flunky, hanger-on, henchman, lackey, lickspittle, minion, myrmidon, satellite, stooge, sycophant, toady, yes-man
    opposite: coryphaeus, leader
    near: apostate, defector, renegade, traitor, turncoat

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adherent

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adherent:

adhesive, clingy, gluey, glutinous, gummy, sticky, tacky, tenacious, viscid, acolyte, convert, disciple, epigone, follower, liege man, partisan, pupil, votarist, votary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Adherent

Words with the opposite meaning of Adherent:

nonadhesive, coryphaeus, leader

Related Words for Adherent

gelatinous, gooey, ropy, syrupy, viscous, pitchy, tarry, apostle, missionary, proselytizer, soldier, faithful, loyalist, advocate, backer, champion, supporter, protégé, scholar, student, ideologist, ideologue, sectarian, admirer, cultist, devotee, enthusiast, fan, idolater, worshipper

Near Antonyms of Adherent

nonviscous, apostate, defector, renegade, traitor, turncoat

Word Forms of Adherent

Derived words: adherently (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Adherent

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin adhaerent-, adhaerens, going back to Latin, present participle of adhaerēre "to adhere"

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Adherent

Frequently Asked Questions about Adherent

What does "Adherent" mean?

"Adherent" means one who adheres to something. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: one who adheres to something. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Adherent"?

Other words for "Adherent" include adhesive, clingy, gluey, glutinous, gummy, sticky, tacky and tenacious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adherent" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adherent"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adherent". Common alternatives include adhesive, clingy, gluey, glutinous, gummy, sticky, tacky, tenacious, viscid and acolyte.

What is the opposite of "Adherent"?

Antonyms of "Adherent" include nonadhesive, coryphaeus and leader. Near antonyms include nonviscous, apostate, defector and renegade.

How do you use "Adherent" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adherent" in a sentence: "the bandage is made from a mildly adherent fiber"; "the Flat Earth Society surely doesn't have many adherents".

Is "Adherent" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Adherent" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Adherent" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Adherent" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Adherent"?

"Adherent" is pronounced /ad-ˈhir-ənt/ and divided into syllables as ad·her·ent.