devotional

adjective

di-ˈvō-shnəl How to pronounce devotional (audio)
Definition of devotionalnext
as in religious
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion a religious bookstore with an extensive stock of devotional literature

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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 devotional At the Met, Bambach dedicated a central gallery to the Madonnas that Raphael painted for private patrons—devotional pictures made for the home at a domestic scale. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 Beta’s own devotional perspective can feel two-dimensional at times, and there are areas that could use a bit more digging. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Bhuta nritya, or spirit dance, is a popular mode of devotional worship. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026 In a growing movement in India, young people have opted to trade alcohol and house music for chai and devotional music. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for devotional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devotional
  1. religious
  2. sacred
  3. spiritual
  4. liturgical
Adjective
  • The editor of the journal Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, wrote that enforcement is both a legal obligation and a religious duty for officials.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Whether to use the stations is a private choice, and any individual may use the facilities for either a secular or religious purpose.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of religious
Adjective
  • The sacred wind instrument — which is created from a eucalyptus tree trunk or branch naturally hollowed out by termites — was developed a thousand years ago by the Aboriginal community in northern Australia and is often used in cultural ceremonies.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Far-right extremists are even encouraging Jewish-Arab violence atop the Temple Mount, the most sacred site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, which could ignite anti-Israel religious violence and terrorism in the region.
    — Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of sacred
Adjective
  • The story seems a spiritual festival on the German-Polish border become an ensemble dramedy about healing and reinvention.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But Watts, who is well-versed in gnosticism — an esoteric, religious philosophy that places emphasis on the spiritual realm and obtaining wisdom about oneself — seemed to have had a profound impact on McCollough’s worldview.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • Paintings, liturgical objects and the clothes of a notable 18th century Spanish count were among the other items removed from the monastery.
    — Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Cupichs attended a parish where mass was celebrated in Latin (the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council were yet to come) but the sermons were spoken in Croatian.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of liturgical

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Cite this Entry

“Devotional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devotional. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on devotional

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about devotional

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