Definition of loyalnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word loyal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of loyal are constant, faithful, resolute, staunch, and steadfast. While all these words mean "firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance," loyal implies a firm resistance to any temptation to desert or betray.

remained loyal to the czar

When is constant a more appropriate choice than loyal?

The meanings of constant and loyal largely overlap; however, constant stresses continuing firmness of emotional attachment without necessarily implying strict obedience to promises or vows.

constant friends

When can faithful be used instead of loyal?

Although the words faithful and loyal have much in common, 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 would resolute be a good substitute for loyal?

The synonyms resolute and loyal are sometimes interchangeable, but resolute implies firm determination to adhere to a cause or purpose.

a resolute ally

When is it sensible to use staunch instead of loyal?

While the synonyms staunch and loyal are close in meaning, staunch suggests fortitude and resolution in adherence and imperviousness to influences that would weaken it.

a staunch defender of free speech

Where would steadfast be a reasonable alternative to loyal?

While in some cases nearly identical to loyal, 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 loyal Since opening in August, the restaurant has already gained a loyal following among Cañon City’s roughly 17,000 residents. — Sarah Kuta, Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2026 Any deal would require a major ideological concession, and still appears distant, as Shas remains loyal to Netanyahu, even as UTJ signals an opening. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026 That shift could be significant for Republican lawmakers deciding how closely to align themselves with a president whose core supporters remain loyal but whose broader standing could complicate the party’s recovery. — Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026 Many of these humble establishments have a loyal fan base across India. — Shalbha Sarda, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loyal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loyal
Adjective
  • And beyond that, the people inside the company are coming from an ethos that has remained steadfast in actually supporting youth culture.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Dana Kamilar, Florida regional director of outreach for StandWithUs, commended the Miami community for its steadfast support of Israel and the Jewish people.
    — Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The last time Mississippi chose a new Democratic senator was 1947, and the winner then was a staunch segregationist.
    — BILL BARROW, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
  • But the memory foam fan club also has plenty of staunch supporters.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The organ woven into the walls of the church where Bach spent decades as cantor was built in 2000, but its tuning and temperament systems were designed to be faithful to the standards of his lifetime.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Riga, with its pre-Revolutionary buildings and rows of Soviet-era prefab housing blocks, provided a rather faithful replica of Russia.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Followers believed the devout earned their place in the afterlife through good acts.
    — Noelle Crombie, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026
  • In 1960, the year Pruitt was born, the Census counted 876 people living on Tangier, an isolated offshore island known for its devout religiosity and, more recently, its flooding, sinking land.
    — John Anglim, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • That rings especially true in a region where development looms larger and green spaces are getting smaller.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The cat quickly shows its true colors, creating trouble in ever-escalating comic situations that are laugh out loud funny and absurd.
    — Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Success is often measured by events that never happen because dedicated professionals acted to prevent them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The park receives almost no dedicated state funding, and no other source in New Jersey is equipped to handle recovery on this scale.
    — Remy Schwartz, New York Daily News, 13 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Michael Sloan, a close friend who rode motorcycles with Sanft, according to the report, confirmed his death and remembered the attorney as a devoted friend.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Stallone’s best late-career screenwriting efforts, however, were devoted to his other iconic character, Vietnam vet and one-man killing machine John Rambo.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Loyal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loyal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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