religious 1 of 2

Definition of religiousnext
1
as in sacred
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the most beautiful religious music in the world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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religious

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of religious
Adjective
This year’s religious Democrats support an expansive state with generous benefits that uplift the poor, because (to oversimplify a little) that’s what Jesus would have wanted. David Weigel, semafor.com, 24 June 2026 The Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana prisoner whose dreadlocks were forcibly shaved off by prison guards cannot sue them under a federal law designed to protect the religious rights of prisoners. Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 June 2026
Noun
As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras. Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020 See All Example Sentences for religious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for religious
Adjective
  • His larger diagnosis is that the division machine has made every disagreement existential — and that once a political difference becomes sacred, people will rationalize almost anything to defeat the other side.
    Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • But over time, and as reverence for the Revolutionary War generation grew, the political parties sought to prove themselves the truest guardians of the founding principles, transforming it from an argument for independence into a sacred document.
    Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • However, this distinction did more than pit pious Americans against an atheist enemy.
    David Williamson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
  • In Wake-Keeper (2026), a roughly four-by-five-foot canvas, a pious man draped in the red cloth of traditional Ghanaian funeral attire sits on a stool with his hands clasped, his body facing the left side of the frame.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Democrats are also passionate about the Constitution, the rule of law and due process — all high ground positions.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
  • Even in some of the big, seemingly soulless companies, there’s a lot of really passionate people who want to make art.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • There’s this evil nun, or prioress, who bloodlets the goodly, heroic Robin Hood.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
  • In Disclosure Day, Jane’s worrying is curious, coming from someone who meant to become a nun.
    Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday that practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement cannot sue tech giant Cisco over allegations of aiding the Chinese government’s surveillance and torture of the group.
    Sophie Brams, The Hill, 23 June 2026
  • The 1970s were thick with New Age spiritual fads and movements, from the benign (crystals) to the unspeakably toxic and cultic (Jonestown).
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • For a devout convert to Catholicism, Vance has a bumpy history with the Vatican.
    Paul Elie, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
  • Fearing a loss of their significant clout and influence, devout Protestants revived the earlier campaign to write their faith commitments into the Constitution.
    David Mislin, The Conversation, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Noun
  • The free Apple Photos is approachable for photography novices but still powerful enough to satisfy those who want extra control.
    Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
  • Authorities say five instructors, five novice tandem jumpers and the pilot died when the Pilatus PC-6 suddenly fell almost vertically near homes after leaving Nancy-Essey airfield.
    Antonin Utz, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Religious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religious. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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