pietism
noun
pi·e·tism
ˈpī-ə-ˌti-zəm 
1
capitalized
: a 17th century religious movement originating in Germany in reaction to formalism and intellectualism and stressing Bible study and personal religious experience
2
a
: emphasis on devotional experience and practices
b
: affectation of devotion
Examples of pietism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Republicans who had sympathized with the Trump administration’s early efforts to play down Covid-19 went back to pooh-poohing it, Democrats returned to their peculiar form of technocratic pietism.
—
Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 13 Feb. 2022
The Black Lives Matter hysteria induced an outpouring of self-lacerating racial-justice pietism from a media and corporate elite only too eager to moralize about the innate sinfulness of Americans.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2020
Even Gandhi’s own pietism, for all his protestations of love and friendship, could set Muslim nerves on edge.
—Ferdinand Mount, WSJ, 1 Nov. 2018
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Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 13 Feb. 2022
The Black Lives Matter hysteria induced an outpouring of self-lacerating racial-justice pietism from a media and corporate elite only too eager to moralize about the innate sinfulness of Americans.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2020
Even Gandhi’s own pietism, for all his protestations of love and friendship, could set Muslim nerves on edge.
—Ferdinand Mount, WSJ, 1 Nov. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Pietism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pietism. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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