1
as in steadfast
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something
a pious supporter of his school's athletic teams, during winning and losing seasons alike
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devout
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
a pious woman who decided to become a nun
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of pious
By then something had happened to the sober, pious minds of the new right.
—
George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Her queerness, though, got rejected by her parents (Merritt Wever channeling a withering scorn and a pious look that is cold and unnerving).
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Supported, at least initially, by his pious wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and his two teenage daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), Iman and his clan seem set for a comfy bourgeois life.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
According to Singh, Bishnoi has cultivated the public persona of a pious man dedicated to God and justice.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pious
George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
Her queerness, though, got rejected by her parents (Merritt Wever channeling a withering scorn and a pious look that is cold and unnerving).
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Supported, at least initially, by his pious wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and his two teenage daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), Iman and his clan seem set for a comfy bourgeois life.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
According to Singh, Bishnoi has cultivated the public persona of a pious man dedicated to God and justice.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pious
Adjective
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What alerted them to her location wasn’t footprints or a cell phone ping, however, but rather the sounds of her steadfast pup, Cami.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
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The year-on-year increases at each major are more modest, usually between 10 and 12 percent, but that percentage of tournament revenue remains steadfast, if not entirely immovable.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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While the bulk of this story follows the normal progression of life-saving treatment, there are a few things that make this couple, devout Catholics, see a deeper cause at work.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Dec. 2025
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Some of the founders were indeed devout Christians and these folks cherry-pick Christian quotations from them.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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But beyond his professional accomplishments, Andy was a special person and a dear and loyal friend.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
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The last time a president leaned on a loyal Fed chair to juice the economy with lower rates, the results were ugly.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Last year’s version, which withered on the Senate’s calendar, also included religious organizations.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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Researchers also reported a large building that may have served as a public religious or civic structure (often described as a candidate for a mosque/madrasa/bathhouse).—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Young progressive Jews with staunch pro-Palestinian views are, however, starting to appear in politics, and win races.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
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Emmer has been a staunch opponent of Walz for some time, whose antagonism for the governor heightened once Walz became the vice presidential running mate to former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Inside, the mood was hushed, reverent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Dec. 2025
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It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Proceed with caution, faithful readers… The die is cast — the traitors and faithfuls have been chosen, and their clothes are doing the slaying (all puns intended).—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
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Season one is faithful to Martin’s debut Dunk and Egg tale, The Hedge Knight, and season two, which already has been greenlit, will be based on his novella The Sworn Sword.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Mashhad is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest in Shiite Islam, making the protests there carry heavy significance for the country's theocracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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An administrative office and library were charred by the flames, according to multiple reports, and several Torahs, Jewish holy texts rolled into large scrolls, were ruined or damaged.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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