Definition of devotionnext
1
2
3

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 The interior has a decidedly gothic mood, with a devotion to Edgar Allan Poe and other writers. Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026 Palm’s devotion to her faith and her insistence that Morin could be transformed, became the impetus of a relationship that lasted long after Palm was returned to safety — until Morin received the death penalty. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026 No one could trace the secret roots of Skinny Pedro’s devotion to the world of machines. Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026 With their striking markings and epic migrations, few insects inspire as much awe and devotion as the monarch butterfly. Drew Kann, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for devotion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devotion
Noun
  • Olivo, 42, says the choice to take Maggie in was shaped by both love and lived experience.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
  • And this story of adolescent friendship, love, and loss is both relatable and original.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Whatever his contemporaries thought of Melville’s prose, at least his coworkers respected his dedication and honesty, the later a rare commodity in government work during the late nineteenth-century.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
  • As a result of our emphasis on hours over outcomes, workers are under constant pressure to forgo their rightfully earned time off to prove their dedication and commitment.
    Joe O’Connor, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But the original radiates a kind of old-time religion; and while the music of Bowie’s version lacks some of that spirit, the words still carry it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
  • This philosophy is his religion.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Ask gently yet clearly, because knowledge nourishes affection.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Orion began to respond to Artemis’ affection.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The company is positioning experience not as theater, but as a measurable driver of revenue and loyalty.
    Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • As loyalty and conformity often disguised as anticommunism suppressed the fervency for civil rights that punctuated the war years, Du Bois’s conflict increased in intensity for a Black America expecting an improved quality of life in peacetime.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Christians were imprisoned or killed for practicing their faith, and religious practice was confined to the Chinese nationalist Three-Self Church under strict government control.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
  • That notice must include things such as rights to return to the property, what repairs are being done, and a good-faith estimate of the time required to complete the repairs.
    Amanda Hari, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Over the past seven years, Blake Lively brought her dream hair care line to life by redefining the beauty industry with a blend of passion, precision and purpose.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
  • His wife, Sylvia, has boyfriends of her own but can’t abide Hank’s obvious passion for Davis.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Gophers added to its wide receiver room with the commitment of Cincinnati transfer Noah Jennings on Friday night.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Carrying Mandarin-style wooden ducks (won-ang seteu) down the aisle symbolizes the groom's commitment to his partner and represents virtues like fidelity, harmony, and family in Korean culture.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on devotion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!