as in holiness
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous
true saintliness requires utter selflessness and devotion to others
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Recent Examples of saintliness
In the years following Wallace’s death, this aura of saintliness likely derived from the combination of his moral seriousness as a fiction writer—his attunement to the heroism of private suffering and emotional endurance—and the fact of his premature end.
—
Hermione Hoby,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Hermione Hoby,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saintliness
Noun
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Others limit prayer to God alone and emphasize remembering saints primarily as historical models of holiness.
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Even adversaries in the Arab world have never sunk to attacking the holiness of the Western Wall.
Noun
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The corollary is that paintings that don’t seem to have been purchased by the couple must be empty and flat, without the vein of spirituality that would bring them to life.
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Over a decade ago, Brazilian photographer and filmmaker Viviane D’Avilla traveled to India looking to develop a photography project based on the country’s culture and spirituality.
Cite this Entry
“Saintliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saintliness. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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