OpenSynonym

pagans

/ˈpeɪɡənz/

NOUN

1. Followers of pagan religions

People who follow religious traditions outside the major world religions, particularly those involving polytheistic beliefs, nature worship, or the veneration of multiple deities.

1.1. Followers of polytheistic and nature-based religions

People who practice religious traditions centered on multiple deities, nature, or spiritual connections with the natural world.

Synonyms

Examples

  • The ancient temple was once a gathering place for local pagans who honored nature.
  • Modern pagans gathered to celebrate the changing seasons and their spiritual traditions.

Related Words

  • idolaters
  • animists
  • pantheists
  • worshippers
  • spiritualists

1.2. People outside a particular religious community

People regarded as outsiders by members of a specific religious tradition, especially in historical or religious writing.

Synonyms

Examples

  • Historical accounts sometimes described neighboring communities as pagans.
  • The medieval text distinguished the Christian population from the pagans living beyond the settlement.

Related Words

NOUN

2. Unruly or poorly behaved people

People regarded as uncivilized, undisciplined, or lacking proper social behavior; an informal and often disparaging extension of the religious meaning.

2.1. Uncivilized or unsocialized people

People perceived as lacking refinement, social discipline, or conventional manners.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • civilized people

Examples

  • The travelers unfairly dismissed the isolated villagers as pagans because of their unfamiliar customs.

Related Words

  • uncouth people
  • boors
  • ruffians

2.2. Unruly or badly behaved children

Children who behave mischievously, disobediently, or without proper discipline; an informal and often humorous usage.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • well-behaved children

Examples

  • The exhausted teacher joked that the classroom was full of little pagans.

Related Words