Worshippers abused assistant (9)

I believe the answer is:

satanists

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'worshippers' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'abused assistant' is the wordplay.
'abused' indicates anagramming the letters.
'assistant' with letters rearranged gives 'SATANISTS'.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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