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Glite Dictionary
🚫 A traitor 🚫 No longer loyal
apostate

apostate

11 9.9
A person who leaves a religion, party or cause and is seen as disloyal
  • noun
  • /ˈæpəˌsteɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : apóstata
  • The former leader was labeled an apostate after rejecting the core beliefs of his religion.
  • apostates only

I've been very keen to speak to an apostate, somebody that's left Islam.

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Examples

  • You would also, by definition, have to be an apostate, or at least a non-practicing Muslim.

    Blog text (18)

  • As far as I can tell, the SLC Mormon bunch are apostates in terms of Mormonism.

    Blog text (26)

  • Some may actually see him as an apostate since he chose not to follow his father's faith.

    Blog text (16)

  • Only an apostate would flee to the forbidden zone.

    Planet of the Apes (1968)

  • I've been very keen to speak to an apostate, somebody that's left Islam.

    Liam Tuffs

  • Many Muslims consider Ahmadis, who also see their founder as a prophet, to be apostates.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Secularists have been accused by the Islamists of being apostates from Islam and agents of Western powers and culture.

    Academic text (1996)

  • And Sevi simply acquiesces and becomes an apostate, betraying the hopes and beliefs of thousands of followers.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Many viewed her as an apostate for publicly opposing the ideals she once supported.

  • He faced severe backlash from his community for being an apostate after leaving the political party.

Synonyms

traitor
vsapostate
  • Offensive
381 3.9

A person who breaks the trust of their country, group, or friend to help an enemy

is specific to abandoning a belief or cause, not all betrayals
renegade
vsapostate
46 7.9

A person who leaves and betrays their group

centres on abandoning a belief or cause rather than open rebellion
defector
vsapostate
43 7.6

A person who leaves their country or group to join an opposing side

emphasizes renouncing belief or cause without necessarily joining enemies
turncoat
vsapostate
  • Offensive
13 8.2

A person who leaves their group to join the opposite side

is about renouncing loyalty or belief without always switching sides
deserter
vsapostate
4 5.1

A person who leaves a group or cause and is seen as disloyal

focuses on abandoning belief or loyalty rather than mere leaving
ratter
vsapostate
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who betrays their friends or group

focuses on public renouncement rather than personal betrayal
recreant
vsapostate
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not brave and betrays friends or causes

implies deliberate public renouncement rather than failure from fear
abjurer
vsapostate
  • Formal
9.9

A person who publicly gives up a belief, often under oath

is broader, meaning public abandonment seen as disloyal

Antonyms

believer
343 3.2

A person who accepts something as true and often supports it, for example a religion or idea

adherent
20 6.6

A person who supports a party, leader, or idea and helps promote it

How Faithful

devotee
25 6.0
supporter
817 1.0
follower
295 1.6
apostate
  • Formal
11 9.9
defector
43 7.6
turncoat
  • Offensive
13 8.2
traitor
  • Offensive
381 3.9

Surface Forms

apostate singular
apostates plural

Etymology

Apostate comes from Greek parts apo- 'away' and histanai 'to stand', so it originally meant 'to stand away'. That's why an apostate is a person who abandons or turns away from their religion, party, or cause.