pietism
noun
pi·e·tism
ˈpī-ə-ˌti-zəm 
1
Pietism
: a 17th century German religious movement rejecting 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
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.
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
Cite this Entry
“Pietism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pietism. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share