Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

cult of personality

American  

noun

  1. a cult promoting adulation of a living national leader or public figure, as one encouraged by Stalin to extend his power.


Etymology

Origin of cult of personality

Probably earlier than 1965–70; translation of Russian kulʾt líchnosti

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Musk mythos and his so-called cult of personality, according to experts.

From MarketWatch Jun. 5, 2026

Most crucially, Kim Il Sung built up an extraordinary cult of personality around himself that was durable enough to hand down to his son and then his grandson, the current leader Kim Jong Un.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 11, 2026

The Kim family has ruled North Korea with an iron grip for decades, and a cult of personality surrounding their "Paektu bloodline" dominates daily life in the isolated country.

From Barron's Feb. 26, 2026

Yet Francis has rejected all trappings of sovereignty and cult of personality.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 25, 2025

Although it was unclear if he or his older relatives would wield real power, propagandists worked overtime manufacturing a new cult of personality.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training