DEVOTION Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'devotion' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of devotion are allegiance , fealty , fidelity , loyalty , and piety . While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication. // a painter's devotion to her art

Q: When could 'allegiance' be used to replace 'devotion'?

While the synonyms allegiance and devotion are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country. // pledging allegiance

Q: When would 'fealty' be a good substitute for 'devotion'?

The words fealty and devotion can be used in similar contexts, but fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow. // fealty to the truth

Q: When might 'fidelity' be a better fit than 'devotion'?

In some situations, the words fidelity and devotion are roughly equivalent. However, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. // marital fidelity

Q: Where would 'loyalty' be a reasonable alternative to 'devotion'?

The words loyalty and devotion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray. // valued the loyalty of his friends

Q: When is it sensible to use 'piety' instead of 'devotion'?

Although the words piety and devotion have much in common, piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental. // filial piety

devotion

noun

di-ˈvō-shən

Definition of devotion

as in love

a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone Albert Schweitzer was world-renowned for his devotion to his fellow man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dedication

adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty the knight's fierce devotion to his lord

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in religion

belief and trust in and loyalty to God a people of deep spirituality and indomitable devotion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word devotion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of devotion are allegiance, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, and piety. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When could allegiance be used to replace devotion?

While the synonyms allegiance and devotion are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

When would fealty be a good substitute for devotion?

The words fealty and devotion can be used in similar contexts, but fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

When might fidelity be a better fit than devotion?

In some situations, the words fidelity and devotion are roughly equivalent. However, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

Where would loyalty be a reasonable alternative to devotion?

The words loyalty and devotion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

When is it sensible to use piety instead of devotion?

Although the words piety and devotion have much in common, piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

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 devotion Chrome’s trashy, thrashy playing wedded the urgency of punk with devotion to older, sleazy rock ’n’ roll. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 In the republic’s 250th year, service of this length and this devotion belongs to no party. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2026 From grandmother to grandchild, these three sets of two sisters were powerful characters possessed with passion, willfulness, bravery, and devotion to each other. — Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026 That devotion to the character is what led to LaNasa earning her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in 2025. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for devotion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devotion

Noun

The poems push against the binaries of leaving and being left and embrace ongoing love in the wake of loss.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
What the bill means for classic cars, lowriders Maintaining vintage vehicles is a labor of love, and the biennial smog check requirement poses an additional challenge for collectors, as not all gas stations are equipped to provide this service.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of love

Noun

Certainly, the ancient Greeks appreciated symmetry and precision in their architecture; it’s even been hypothesized that this symmetry was considered divine and thus represented religious dedication to the space.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
This included the dedication of New York Square in Jerusalem alongside Mayor Teddy Kollek, himself a frequent visitor to NYC.

— Herbert Block, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of dedication

Noun

Though religious thinkers will fight fiercely to show one of the stories to be the one that religion really sanctions, each Abrahamic religion has signposts pointing both ways.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Dialog doesn’t take away from the strong emotions people carry about war, death, or religion and history.

— Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of religion

Noun

Marian Keyes’ beloved characters were brilliantly brought to life by Stefanie Preissner and directed with real affection by Ian Fitzgibbon.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
In recent conversations with The Athletic, two coaches with deep affection for their alma mater described having the Camp Randall rug yanked from underneath them.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of affection

Noun

Her resistance ignites a conflict that exposes hidden secrets, shifting loyalties and traditions that have shaped the family for generations.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
In a personalist system, leadership prizes loyalty, China expert Minxin Pei told The Beijing Brief podcast, with the consequence that strong figures — potential successors — tend to get weeded out.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of loyalty

Noun

There are also horrifying incidents of helplessness and despair, as well as touching examples of hope, faith and redemption.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
What has distinguished New York, however, is an understanding that disagreement should not come at the expense of partnership, mutual respect, or recognition of Israel’s legitimacy as the homeland of the Jewish people and a land holy to many faiths.

— Herbert Block, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of faith

Noun

But the Philharmonic’s actual principal trumpet player, Chris Martin (no relation to the Coldplay singer), says Dudamel has a natural instinct for when to pivot from engineering to philosophy, passion, and metaphor.

— Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Where the series worked backwards from the bomb to uncover the botched grand plan behind it, the film loopily joins the dots from an apparent crime of passion to a far more famous crime of greed.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of passion

Noun

And then Jeremy got on the Boys From Brazil thing for television, and those commitments are, like, two years.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to honor the lives lost to suicide, to stand with the families and communities suicide has touched, and to renew our commitment to prevention.

— Courtney Marx, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of commitment

Browse Nearby Words

devoting

devotion

devotional

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Devotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devotion. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of devotion

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on devotion

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

nemesis

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes