PIETISTIC Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

pietistic

adjective

Definition of pietistic

as in ascetic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 pietistic Though arguably one of the most pietistic, genuine and well-intentioned presidents of the 20th century, Carter’s presidency was clouded by challenges, many of which were out of his control. — Noah Eckstein, Variety, 29 Dec. 2024 Warnock’s doctoral thesis, the basis of a book published in 2013, was about the divide in the Black church between a pietistic tradition, which emphasized individual righteousness and uplift, and a social one, epitomized by King. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2022 The official version of Irish history was a dour, gray, pietistic nationalism. — Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2022 Fonny grew up there, too, with his alcoholic father (Michael Beach), unforgivingly pietistic mother (Aunjanue Ellis), and judgmental sisters (Ebony Obsidian and Dominique Thorne). — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, 18 Sep. 2018 My personal Sharia tells me how to pray, how to fast, how to follow my personal pietistic laws, but then there is Sharia that gets involved in criminal law, that gets involved in prohibiting siege. — Fox News, 18 June 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pietistic

Adjective

And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.

— Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

Definition of ascetic

Adjective

The story seems a spiritual festival on the German-Polish border become an ensemble dramedy about healing and reinvention.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
But Watts, who is well-versed in gnosticism — an esoteric, religious philosophy that places emphasis on the spiritual realm and obtaining wisdom about oneself — seemed to have had a profound impact on McCollough’s worldview.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiritual

Adjective

After a while, though, all the professions of sincerity and thanks, the constant invocations of the one true POTUS, and the worshipful exhibits upstairs give the whole place a cultish, nostalgic gleam.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026
The secret in the biscuits is the pairing of cheddar with bacon, with the overall result being worshipful thanks from those who are lucky enough to partake.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 May 2026

Definition of worshipful

Adjective

Tigua dancers of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo performed a prayerful ceremony traditional before a hunt.

— Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 June 2026
That’s the prayerful explanation for the nonsense that spouted this week from the leaders of a football conference that hopes to grow up and be the Big Ten someday.

— Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Definition of prayerful

Adjective

Luccardi’s relationship with it was rather less reverential by the end of the shoot.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
There was the viral pleasure and even pride in seeing foreigners encounter Buc-ee’s with reverential appreciation or giddily experience industrial quantities of Mountain Dew Baja Blast at Taco Bell.

— Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of reverential

Adjective

These movies always run the risk of being overly reverent, and for better and worse, Johnson’s take on Bourdain’s formative years is not concerned with reverence.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
The Lost Boys gave us the chance to create something that feels reverent toward the film while still staking its own claim.

— Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of reverent

Adjective

The editor of the journal Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, wrote that enforcement is both a legal obligation and a religious duty for officials.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Whether to use the stations is a private choice, and any individual may use the facilities for either a secular or religious purpose.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of religious

Browse Nearby Words

pietist

pietistic

pietists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pietistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pietistic. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pietistic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes