pious

adjective

ˈpī-əs How to pronounce pious (audio)
Definition of piousnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pious Others regard the unum as a pious myth. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 However, this distinction did more than pit pious Americans against an atheist enemy. — David Williamson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026 In Wake-Keeper (2026), a roughly four-by-five-foot canvas, a pious man draped in the red cloth of traditional Ghanaian funeral attire sits on a stool with his hands clasped, his body facing the left side of the frame. — Lovia Gyarkye, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026 The aim wasn’t to make the chatbot Bible-thumping or pious. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pious
  1. steadfast
  2. devout
  3. loyal
  4. religious
  5. staunch
  6. reverent
  7. faithful
  8. holy
Adjective
  • The cigar lounge was steadfast in Sundance Square throughout Covid and the ever-changing business scene downtown.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
  • By the end of the primary, Moulton had apologized for his November 2024 remarks — and Markey’s steadfast support for trans rights was part of his re-election argument.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of steadfast
Adjective
  • Johnny Cash was a lot of things — devout Christian, country superstar, anti-Vietnam activist, variety show host.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The religious approach appealed to devout Catholics such as Velazquez, an immigrant from Mexico who spent three decades without status in the country, cutting hair from her home and cleaning houses when business was slow.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of devout
Adjective
  • Then, as now, the cable system reached only the five boroughs of New York City, giving NY1 a loyal, concentrated audience of more than 1 million daily viewers in the capital of media and finance.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Wings fan held family close to his heart Frank Doyle, 39, formerly of New Boston and Bloomfield Hills, was a loyal Detroit Red Wings fan.
    — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of loyal
Adjective
  • Netanyahu’s government, the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history, has presided over a surge of settlement construction in the West Bank.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Netanyahu’s government is the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history.
    — Ibrahim Hazboun, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of religious
Adjective
  • When Johannès was left off the EuroBasket squad in 2023, she was caught between the French national team’s staunch requirements and the WNBA’s prioritization rule, which required her to be present for opening day.
    — Eden Laase, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Johnson’s mayoral tenure has been marked by an inability to work with Springfield, a skill deficiency displayed by his staunch allies at the teachers union and the aligned board members on the CBOE.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of staunch
Adjective
  • But the bigger issue is that Tenzing keeps its title character and his closest ally (to say nothing of all the smaller characters around them) at a reverent distance, rendering them in broad strokes rather than fine shading.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Around them, an aristocratic winemaker defines his legacy, a legendary maître d’hôtel seeks his heir, and a reverent wine critic pursues the sublime.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of reverent
Adjective
  • Austin Simmons had quite the introduction to the Mizzou faithful Thursday night.
    — PJ Green September 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
  • However, their time together ended when Tamburello, a faithful, turned on Parks, a traitor, and voted to banish her in episode 10.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of faithful
Adjective
  • This campaign season contains all sorts of scenarios screaming for holy intervention.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The holiday is a holy time for Jews, and is believed to be the birthday of the universe or the day God created Adam and Eve.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of holy

Browse Nearby Words

pioneers
pious
piousness
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Cite this Entry

“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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