Synonym Chooser

How is the word fealty distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fealty are allegiance, devotion, fidelity, loyalty, and piety. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

Where would allegiance be a reasonable alternative to fealty?

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

pledging allegiance

In what contexts can devotion take the place of fealty?

The meanings of devotion and fealty largely overlap; however, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When could fidelity be used to replace fealty?

While in some cases nearly identical to fealty, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

When would loyalty be a good substitute for fealty?

The words loyalty and fealty 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 might piety be a better fit than fealty?

The synonyms piety and fealty are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 fealty But the panel featured a serious conversation over whether judges should have this power, rather than statements of fealty to Trump’s position. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 12 May 2025 Trump demands absolute loyalty and nothing else matters but fealty to him. Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 15 May 2025 Public officials in the Justice Department, the Office of Legal Counsel, the FBI, and the Office of White House Legal Counsel, have traded in their duty to the law for fealty to a felon. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 That united display of fealty reflected Big Tech’s hopes that Trump would be more accommodating than President Joe Biden’s administration’s and help propel an already booming industry to even greater heights. Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fealty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fealty
Noun
  • Police shot and killed Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to an Islamic State militant group.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2025
  • Gray takes a rather more conventional approach here to the genre tropes in Lee Zachariah’s sturdy screenplay, but provides more than enough rapid-fire shootouts, impressive stunt choreography, shifting allegiances and moderately clever plot twists to keep things interesting.
    Joe Leydon, Variety, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Moreover, a unified brand identity not only enables greater recognition but also helps build trust, gain loyalty, and, as a result, increase conversions.
    Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • There’s a smarter, more future-facing loyalty model: one that integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) signals directly into how customers are scored, segmented, and rewarded.
    Gabriele Buffo, Fortune, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • And the software vendor demonstrated a commitment to innovate.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The partnership was formed through equal equity commitments from WMG and Bain Capital.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The Eight of Pentacles asks you to embrace discipline and dedication, and trust that your efforts will pay off in the long run.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
  • The 30-year-old expression showcases Glen Grant's craftsmanship at its finest, demonstrating the distillery's dedication to quality.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • To be fair, fellow-Sikhs also infer devotion and discipline, although these are neither the only readings nor the most common.
    Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • Growing up in that parish, Martinez experienced devotions and ritual on a grand scale, with elaborate ceremonies conducted by bishops, archbishops and cardinals.
    Ellen Skerrett, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Anyone with even a basic understanding of the movie industry of the 1930s, let alone a Hollywood mogul, would know the difficulty of adapting it to the screen with any semblance of fidelity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
  • Unlike other sharks that roam vast distances, great hammerheads display strong site fidelity to certain coastal habitats, particularly during juvenile stages.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fealty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fealty. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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