Definition of loyaltynext

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 Even chains with thousands of locations elsewhere are testing whether novelty can translate into loyalty. ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 What matters more is whether full-price repeat purchases, customer loyalty and local market insights can ultimately feed back into global decision-making. Advertorial, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2026 College Football instills a lot of loyalty and support in people for their alma mater through the thick and thin of the program’s success. Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 When a customer lets an AI system act on their behalf without double-checking it, that is loyalty. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loyalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loyalty
Noun
  • Kramer is accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Syria and arming himself to carry out a mass casualty attack against the American people.
    Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Cannon’s run remains the high or low point, depending on your school allegiance.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
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
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
Noun
  • Indeed, in her devotion to sparkle, Pechman declines to probe too deeply into any of the industry’s more hurtful or exploitative dimensions.
    Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • By 2017, Cyrus was covering her tattoos with makeup, wearing all white, and singing ballads of marital devotion.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The company relies on high-fidelity training simulators that replicate an infinite number of outcomes, such as system failures and peak-load scenarios, offline.
    Miroslav Katsarov, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Labor Day Headphones Deals Apple’s AirPods Max 2 deliver an exceptional combination of high-fidelity acoustics and pro-grade active noise cancellation.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Loyalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loyalty. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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