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I'm looking for a word describing those who act like sheep to the shepherd, blindly following the leader figure, without considering their own actions. If I could conceive of such a word, I might make it something like "igorical" (reminiscent of Igor, who blindly follows his mad scientist leader).

Example of use (applying to behavior):

It is in such igorical behavior that such an election can arise.

Example of use (applying to people):

It is in the existence of such igorical people that such an election can arise.

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    Search for similar questions. I believe this is a duplicate of a question asked within the last month or two. Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 4:30

6 Answers 6

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A relatively recent coinage is sheeple. It means exactly what you want, albeit a noun rather than an adjective.

The word appears to date back to the 1940s, but I've come across it several times in social media lately, usually in the formulation "Wake up, sheeple!"

It hasn't made it to spellcheck yet, though.

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  • Haha, I love it Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 0:28
  • It's a noun, though, not an adjective.
    – verbose
    Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 0:37
  • That just means it's a bit more limited in how colorfully it can be used Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 0:54
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The obvious, off-the-cuff answer is "lemming" or "lemming mentality," but I suspect that's a little cliché and/or informal for your purpose.

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sheeple or sheople People who are meekly submissive or easily swayed (Sheep + people)

Sheeple (a portmanteau of "sheep" and "people") is a derogatory term that highlights the passive herd behavior of people easily controlled by a governing power which likens them to sheep, a herd animal that is easily led about. The term is used to describe those who voluntarily acquiesce to a suggestion without critical analysis or research in large part because the majority of others possess a similar mindset.

-- Wikipedia

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  • Verbose just beat you to it Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 1:27
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    Welcome to ELU Stack Exchange. This would be a better answer with some cited definitions from authoritative sources. Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 2:08
  • @KatherineLockwood Fixed. Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 13:26
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“acolyte” in the sense of follower, has been used for this purpose

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The word "ovine" is defined by oxforddictionaries.com as

Relating to or resembling sheep

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There's actually a word sheeplike which has a definition to mean exactly that.

It is in such sheeplike behavior that such an election can arise.

It is in the existence of such sheeplike people that such an election can arise.

Macmillan:

sheeplike

ADJECTIVE SHOWING DISAPPROVAL

behaving like sheep, especially in a way that shows an inability to think for yourself

They demand sheeplike obedience.

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