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 Ask what data is being collected at checkout and loyalty signup. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 Nebraska’s independence is worth more than loyalty to any politician. — Jesse E. Stanley, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors describe the drug trafficking and torture conspiracies as interconnected, asserting that proceeds from corruption and narcotics trafficking helped Maduro and Flores maintain the loyalty of officials who enforced their rule. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026 Also, what’s your loyalty number again, for this other thing? — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loyalty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loyalty
Noun
  • Like many of Knight’s fiction projects — notably Peaky Blinders — the film is a working-class underdog story with strong undertones of allegiance and duty.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Though the conventional story told about the YBAs is one of friendship and community, what stands out now is their allegiance to neoliberal individualism.
    — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • More than 70 companies have also signed on to contribute to employees’ children’s accounts, the White House said, following early commitments from firms like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Today, many more American women are choosing Lee Krasner’s lifestyle and her commitments; but to pioneer took a special kind of courage.
    — Barbara Rose, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In that span, the prevailing public narrative about Simmons shifted radically — from a guy zealously dedicated to rehabbing and the game itself to questions about his desire and dedication.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
  • But instead of denouncing the class of managers and industrialists who profited from the paint factories, the doctors blamed the workers for their poor condition, citing their dedication to their jobs as its primary cause.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The new version centers on Dalin, a single mother who designs bridal gowns and whose devotion to her job has opened a gap between her and her 10-year-old daughter Mina.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Like Wilde, Basil possesses an idealistic devotion to beauty and love that proves his undoing.
    — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The show uses large screens and high-fidelity audio to explore the artist’s life and career.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of color, the video switches to black-and-white to keep visuals sharp without sacrificing fidelity.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Loyalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loyalty. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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