1
2
3

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 In a time of tribalism, performative piety, and leaders more interested in building their brands than binding wounds, Pope Francis’s life stands as a gentle rebuke and a holy reminder. Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025 Perhaps his piety soured the American public on him. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024 In an area that used to produce influential Catholic churchmen the way the Dodgers churned out Rookies of the Year, Gomez has amounted to the living equivalent of a hair shirt: a mode of piety that serves no one but the wearer. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 Korine’s work is apolitical but certainly transgressive and boundary-breaking and willing to shatter any and all pieties, whether of left or right. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for piety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piety
Noun
  • Hajj, the world’s largest annual pilgrimage, begins today in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as over 1 million Muslims travel to the religion's holiest city.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • Hundreds of thousands, by some estimates, embraced the religion.
    Foster Klug, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • However, Christianity honored the holiness of these transgender saints.
    Sarah Barringer, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
  • G‑d’s purpose in creating the world was that all of creation be sanctified, imbuing it with holiness and spirituality.
    Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Though devotion plays an important role in how Muslims observe Eid al-Adha, there is also room to come together and have fun.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • This timepiece represents an unshakeable vision, fusing MR-G’s commitment to ultimate strength and beauty with the Zen devotion to contemplating one’s own nature and an integrated worldview of serenity.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • The remarks refer to a sweeping campaign unleashed by Xi with an aim to purge religious faiths of foreign influence and align them more closely with traditional Chinese culture – and the authoritarian rule of the officially atheist Communist Party.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • Ed and Lois were also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and raised their children to uphold a similar faith.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • White’s interrogation of how Eastern spirituality is instrumentalized by soul-sick Westerners succeeded in its wildest provocations.
    Judy Berman, Time, 3 June 2025
  • On incorporating spirituality into the menu: My goal is to create a different dining atmosphere beyond sustenance.
    Elazar Sontag, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • With the streets of The Chi in turmoil, Reg’s comeback sets the stage for high-stakes drama and shifting allegiances.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 2 June 2025
  • Harvard’s dishonest expert on honesty is a poignant symbol of a far larger problem in academia: ideological allegiance replacing the quest for truth.
    Andrew Follett, National Review, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • Since joining the oneworld Alliance in 2013, Qatar has offered codeshare and loyalty integration with 13 major carriers.
    Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • Americans saw the corrosive effects of this problem writ large as the Big Lie about the 2020 election spread and became a test of loyalty among many families, friends, and colleagues.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • The guide is in line with the Space System Protection Standard, which summarizes NASA's continuous dedication to supporting the creation of exact cybersecurity standards for its space systems.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • The scholarships are awarded to student caddies who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, dedication on the golf course and exemplary character.
    Jad El Reda, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piety. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on piety

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!