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faithful

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word faithful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of faithful are constant, loyal, resolute, staunch, and steadfast. While all these words mean "firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance," faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted.

faithful to her promise

When might constant be a better fit than faithful?

The words constant and faithful can be used in similar contexts, but constant stresses continuing firmness of emotional attachment without necessarily implying strict obedience to promises or vows.

constant friends

When would loyal be a good substitute for faithful?

While the synonyms loyal and faithful are close in meaning, loyal implies a firm resistance to any temptation to desert or betray.

remained loyal to the czar

When is it sensible to use resolute instead of faithful?

Although the words resolute and faithful have much in common, resolute implies firm determination to adhere to a cause or purpose.

a resolute ally

When can staunch be used instead of faithful?

The synonyms staunch and faithful are sometimes interchangeable, but staunch suggests fortitude and resolution in adherence and imperviousness to influences that would weaken it.

a staunch defender of free speech

When could steadfast be used to replace faithful?

The meanings of steadfast and faithful largely overlap; however, steadfast implies a steady and unwavering course in love, allegiance, or conviction.

steadfast in their support

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 faithful
Adjective
A day before the stadium concert, a sellout of 52,000, the Oasis faithful queued up for 90 minutes or more at a pop-up store on Milwaukee Avenue about seven miles from the stadium to buy all manner of merch — track jackets and bucket hats, especially. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025 The Jayhawks faithful didn't have much to cheer for last season after finishing the 2024 campaign at just 5-7. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Even though that film and del Toro's Frankenstein derive from the same source material, the latter is being described in early reviews as a far more faithful adaptation. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The Rattlers faithful made their presence felt on a hot Saturday afternoon — until the game’s final snap silenced them. Jayden Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for faithful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faithful
Adjective
  • Community traction is strongest in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, where XRP already commands a loyal user base.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Save for slightly fleshing out some of these roles, Ozon’s script is loyal to the point of lifting most lines of dialogue verbatim.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed aerial robots that fly directly into the smoke, gathering data that could make forecasts far more accurate.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
    Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • To do that, the district, a cooperative of 14 cities and 12 water agencies, employs more than 1,800 workers.
    Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Large grain traders and processors, whether corporations like Cargill or ADM, or cooperatives like CHS, have resources to make forecasts for their own internal use.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Scientists are leaving in droves and being replaced by political loyalists.
    Stan Chu Ilo, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps brand loyalists don’t care, but the GLC 63 E stretches pricing norms, even by luxury standards.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Labyrinth’s themes, characters, and evocative visual artistry remain a steadfast inspiration for artists of all mediums.
    Logan Karlie September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Alan, equally steadfast in his conviction, sees the model as both economic and morally justified.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Redshirt junior Colton Boomer and true freshman Canaan Moore ach missed a field goal — Boomer from 46 yards and Moore from 24.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Red maple Red maple stays true to its name.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After a traumatic encounter, two sisters commune with a local witch to banish men from their town for three hours.
    Holly Jones, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
  • The action then shifts to Montana, where Yunho flees and joins a commune of Americans dedicated to resistance.
    Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • To maintain tanks’ relevance, Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have covered them in different configurations of armor as ad hoc solutions to rapidly shifting tactics.
    Marco Hernandez, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed soldiers had been sent to the area, per the BBC.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Faithful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faithful. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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