Synonym Chooser

How is the word loyalty distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of loyalty are allegiance, devotion, fealty, fidelity, and piety. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," 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 allegiance a more appropriate choice than loyalty?

The meanings of allegiance and loyalty largely overlap; however, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

When would devotion be a good substitute for loyalty?

The words devotion and loyalty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When might fealty be a better fit than loyalty?

In some situations, the words fealty and loyalty are roughly equivalent. However, fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

In what contexts can fidelity take the place of loyalty?

The synonyms fidelity and loyalty are sometimes interchangeable, but fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

When can piety be used instead of loyalty?

The words piety and loyalty can be used in similar contexts, 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 loyalty Due to the partnership, travelers receive reciprocal loyalty benefits along with the opportunity to earn frequent flyer miles when flying on Air France. Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2025 Noncompete agreements, for example, are used by leagues, teams and players to ensure loyalty to one league and one sport. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025 The lounge has become an oasis—and a tangible promise of loyalty delivered. AFAR Media, 23 Oct. 2025 Experiential marketing, idiosyncratic merch and hyper-specific campaign strategies — and, yes, of course the movies — are being deployed by players in the indie film space looking to create brand loyalty among a budding demographic of moviegoers. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for loyalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loyalty
Noun
  • The Rest is Football is part of a recent trend in football coverage which sees ex-players turned pundits — such as Gary Neville, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards — being very open about their continuing allegiances to former clubs.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • An Idaho man accused of planning attacks on Coeur d’Alene churches and pledging his allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization has pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of attempting to aid the group.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Laporta’s commitment to the Super League project has also appeared to wane, with the Barcelona chief reaching out to UEFA and the rest of the European football establishment, which Madrid continue to shun.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The new strategy connects water goals to the denim giant’s 2024 Climate Action Transition Plan, which aligns the company’ business plans with its climate commitments.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The festivities have included live concerts, cultural showcases, historic dedications and child-friendly activities designed to honor the city’s past while looking toward its future.
    Dontaira Terrell, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
  • King Charles attended the monument’s dedication ceremony on Monday, where he was photographed laying a bouquet of flowers.
    Samantha Riedel, Them., 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium is Hogwarts, and its charm is its devotion to a different time in college sports.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Teenagers competed in musical contests that required them to perform songs expressing devotion to Russia.
    Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • By replicating the visual fidelity of reality, retina E-paper brings science closer to creating virtual worlds that the human eye cannot distinguish from the real one.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The demo is a slice of the The Silent Cartographer level, and as the Pelican ship swoops in over the sparkling waters of Alpha Halo to drop Master Chief off on a beach, the graphical fidelity is almost astounding.
    Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Loyalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loyalty. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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