Definition of pietynext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word piety distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of piety are allegiance, devotion, fealty, fidelity, and loyalty. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

When would allegiance be a good substitute for piety?

While the synonyms allegiance and piety are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

When is it sensible to use devotion instead of piety?

While in some cases nearly identical to piety, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When might fealty be a better fit than piety?

Although the words fealty and piety have much in common, fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

When can fidelity be used instead of piety?

The meanings of fidelity and piety largely overlap; however, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

When could loyalty be used to replace piety?

The synonyms loyalty and piety are sometimes interchangeable, but loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

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 piety Eventually, Inaba looks after Mii with all the loyalty, piety, and sometimes uncomfortable intimacy of a person caring for their aging parent. Literary Hub, 15 June 2026 Honoring Catalonia’s Christian traditions Earlier Wednesday, Leo celebrated the centuries-old Catalan tradition of popular piety by praying at Montserrat, a mountain complex outside the city that is dear to many Catalans. Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 Leo celebrated their centuries-old tradition of popular piety by praying at Montserrat, a mountain complex outside the city that is dear to many Catalans. ABC News, 10 June 2026 Trump has always relied upon interim appointments as much as possible, given their filial piety of the office holder to Trump, as their legitimacy is anchored only by his authority and not Congressional confirmation. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for piety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piety
Noun
  • Opponents warn a single ‘Jewish’ ethnic box oversimplifies diverse Jewish histories and risks echoing past government tracking, amid elevated antisemitism and debate over religion, ancestry and culture.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • People have basic rights like freedom of speech, religion and assembly.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Soul is a synonym for God, or Spirit, and expresses the vast and eternal beauty of holiness, reflected in man and the universe.
    Dilshad Khambatta Eames, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The saints’ books, rich vestments and formal poses were visible signs of holiness, symbolizing their learning, discipline and eloquence.
    Denva Gallant, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • The British media devoured the story, as even then Day-Lewis was synonymous with intense devotion to his craft.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As Anna covers for Fyodor’s addiction and increasingly unstable professional behavior, her devotion starts to look poisonous for them both.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Muslim leaders and community members, in turn, told the USA TODAY Network they’re left fighting to defend their faith and warning the nation that its founding principles are at stake.
    BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Most people don’t have a lot of faith in the 2026 Miami Dolphins.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Ford draws from Black and Southern sharecropper traditions of reuse and durability while investigating the relationship among labor, spirituality and textiles in American fashion.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yi offers her readers a dazzling cabinet of curiosities, exploring spirituality, desire and the desperate ways people grasp at each other.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • According to them, Trump’s policies on tariffs, aid, and allies have eroded the United States’ standing, opening the door for people across the world to switch their allegiance to China.
    Adam Y. Liu, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Before Haakon's pledge of allegiance, the palace said that Mette-Marit wasn't going to the ceremony.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Doing so required a heavy dose of grit with a side of loyalty, exactly how his late father, his mother and all those people in Timber Lake taught him to live.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than directly monetizing the platform, Nvidia can deepen developer loyalty, make its hardware and software a natural choice for deploying AI models, and keep a strategic asset out of competitors' hands.
    Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • For all his disparate pursuits, Elsesser revels in the small details, incapable of giving anything less than total dedication.
    Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Before dismissing the jury, Sullivan thanked them for their dedication throughout the nearly six-week trial.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Piety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piety. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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