Satanist

[seyt-n-ist]

noun

1. a person who engages in any of a highly diverse group of religious, philosophical, or countercultural practices centered around Satan, either as a deity or a nontheistic symbol of enlightenment, individualism, or ethical egoism.

2. a person who participates in a deliberate inversion of Christian rites in which Satan is worshiped.

3. Also satanist a person with a diabolical or satanic disposition or who engages in diabolical behavior; an evil person.

adjective

1. relating to or engaging in any of a highly diverse group of religious, philosophical, or countercultural practices centered around Satan.

2. Also satanist diabolical; evil; satanic.

Other Word Forms

• Satanistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Satanist¹

First recorded in 1555–65; Satan ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )

Example Sentences

In January, Cameron Finnigan, 19, from West Sussex, was jailed for his involvement in what police described as a Satanist terror network targeting children for sexual blackmail.

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A teenager involved in what police have described as a Satanist terror network targeting children online for sexual blackmail and violence has been jailed for six years at the Old Bailey.

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At Harvard Divinity School, he was again immersed in religious diversity — even a Satanist was there.

Read more on Seattle Times

The Attorney’s Office said investigators found a six-page note in a flowerbed near the attack addressed to “Dear Satanist” and urged repentance.

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“Just to squash that, I’m not a Satanist or any kind of, like, evil witch, light-worker,” she said, adding that she’s become well-practiced at avoiding unwanted identities the public thrusts upon her.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• charmer 
• genius 
• virtuoso 
• witch 
• wizard