follower

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. adherent, disciple, cohort. See accompaniment.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

Syn. adherent, disciple, supporter, fan, partisan, attendant, henchman, hanger-on, companion, vassal, lackey, helper, acolyte, recruit, pupil, protegé, imitator, worshiper, satellite, votary, apostle, proselyte, zealot, backer, participant, sponsor, evangelist, witness, devotee, believer, advocate, member, admirer, aficionado, patron, promoter, true believer, auxiliary, coadjutor, sectary, seconder, upholder, stooge*, copycat*, yes man*, groupie*.

Ant. opponent*, deserter, apostate.

Syn.- follower is the general term for one who follows or believes in the teachings or theories of someone [ a follower of Freud ] ; supporter applies to one who upholds or defends opinions or theories that are disputed or under attack [ a supporter of technocracy ] ; adherent refers to a close, active follower of some theory, cause, etc. [ the adherents of a political party ] ; disciple implies a personal, devoted relationship to the teacher of some doctrine or leader of some movement [ Plato was a disciple of Socrates ] ; partisan refers to an unswerving, often blindly devoted, adherent of some person or cause

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

disciple, fan, adherent, apostle, partisan, pupil, devotee, member, proponent, patron, votary, proselyte, henchman.

ANT.: leader, mentor, detractor

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun One who supports and adheres to another: adherent, cohort, disciple, henchman, minion, partisan, satellite, supporter. See OVER, PRECEDE.