1
as in loyal
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something
a pious supporter of his school's athletic teams, during winning and losing seasons alike
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devout
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
a pious woman who decided to become a nun
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Recent Examples of pious
Contemporary accounts describe Antoine as a pious person, initially committed to Catholicism, then to spiritualism.
—
Emilien Hofman (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
On one hand, the nun has a pious profession.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
If some punters were irritatingly pious, many also had the time of their life.
—Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025
The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pious
Emilien Hofman (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
On one hand, the nun has a pious profession.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
If some punters were irritatingly pious, many also had the time of their life.
—Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025
The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pious
Adjective
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The loyal throngs of fans that stuck around, even as the crowd dwindled, were duly rewarded when, a few hours later, Lorde arrived in the flesh to perform.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Above all, Thomas has remained loyal to the franchise that drafted him, and loyalty should count for something.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And hey, even the most devout among us can't argue with that.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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The Kremlin and its far-right proxies now paint Ivan as a great statesman and devout Russian Orthodox Christian who laid the foundations of the Russian Empire.—
Dina Khapaeva,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Decade after decade, the city remains steadfast in the face of adversity.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Among those who left in time, some remained steadfast in their lifelong friendships, as did their children.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In general, historical and religious scholars don't put much stock in it.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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Conclave received largely positive reviews from religious experts for its largely accurate portrayal of the election process, and also won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Initially introduced in the 1980s in service of building a superior urban running shoe, the color continues to embody New Balance’s staunch dedication to craft, quality, and fearless independence, in every field.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
3 May 2025
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Rubio has largely eschewed his staunch advocacy of providing foreign aid and promoting democracy overseas since taking over the State Department, repeating a refrain that every policy or program should make America safer, stronger or more prosperous.—
Matthew Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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But Post’s reverent take on pop country ends up inheriting the subgenre’s baggage.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
21 Aug. 2024
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The learning process for me over the course of the first two years was to not be as reverent of the original.—
Rick Porter,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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An early sculpt of what would become the animatronic was revealed, one complete with age spots on Disney’s hands and weariness around his eyes — Imagineers stressed their intent is faithful accuracy — but much of the attraction remains secretive.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
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But Tkachuk found a way to make up for his earlier mistake by redirecting a Thomas Chabot point shot past Anthony Stolarz, sending the Canadian Tire Centre faithful into madness.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Even Joe — who, for the love of all that is holy, just wants his goddamn air fryer back — can’t help but point out how little Rose has visited.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 May 2025
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Although the proximate cause of the Crimean War in the mid-19th century was a dispute between Russia and the Ottoman Empire over control of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, historians also attribute the conflict to geopolitical rivalries and imperial ambitions.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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