Synonyms for
Shaman
Definition
A shaman is a person who is believed to have the ability to communicate with spirits and heal people using magic.
Synonyms & similar words
Synonyms by register
Formal
Informal
Antonyms
Common collocations
- tribal shaman
- healing shaman
- shamanic rituals
- ancient shaman
- shamanic journey
- shamanic practices
- shamanic trance
Word family
noun shamanism
Usage note
The term 'shaman' originates from Siberian cultures and is often used more broadly to refer to a person who acts as an intermediary between the visible and spirit worlds. While 'witch doctor' can be a synonym, it carries a more pejorative and colonial connotation.
Example sentences
- The shaman wore a headdress made of feathers and beads.
- The tribe's shaman led a ceremony to thank the spirits for the harvest.
- The sick child was cured by the shaman's magic.
- The shaman chanted and danced around the fire.
- The shaman used herbs and potions to cure illnesses.
Quotes
The shaman is not merely a sick man, or a madman; he is a sick man who has healed himself.
The shaman is a self-reliant explorer of the endless mansions of a magnificent hidden universe.
The shaman is not a doctor, but he heals. The shaman is not a priest, but he leads. The shaman is not a philosopher, but he knows.