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
  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani debuted a sweeping plan Tuesday to combat antisemitism and hate crimes against Jewish people in New York City, moving to assuage concerns from critics who see his steadfast denunciations of Israel as antisemitic.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani debuted a sweeping plan Tuesday to combat antisemitism and hate crimes against Jewish people in New York City, moving to assuage lingering concerns from critics who see his steadfast denunciations of Israel as antisemitic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of steadfast
Adjective
  • Mamdani, a devout Muslim, is known for his statements against Israeli military actions in the Middle East.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Swift and this new-ish album are just the latest example of how celebs look more disconnected than ever even from their most devout fan base.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of devout
Adjective
  • Both political camps inspire intensely loyal supporters — and fierce opposition.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The post goes on to say that loyal, regular customers are what kept FunDimension afloat.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of loyal
Adjective
  • The Florida Department of Education is considering a new dress code policy for employees that puts restrictions on religious head coverings, Crocs and short skirts.
    — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Families could use awards for private or religious school, homeschooling, tutoring, special education therapies and other education costs; public school students also qualify.
    — Bianca Vázquez Toness, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of religious
Adjective
  • Both Wiener, a gay man and staunch advocate for the city’s large LGBTQ+ community, and Chan, who immigrated to the city from Hong Kong at age 13 and has deep ties to its large Chinese and immigrant communities, would make history by winning.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The exchange came as Schmitt has billed himself as a staunch sports fan.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of staunch
Adjective
  • But an extensive fiiing made by the trust to a Tennessee court late Tuesday afternoon paint a different portrait of Seaver than the reverent one seen in the death announcement video.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Waterhouse often works with hairstylist Jacob Rozenberg, who has crafted her blonde hair into a reverent, glamorous bedhead.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of reverent
Adjective
  • In Lourdes, a holy site in southern France, around 150,000 attended an open-air papal Mass, according to Vatican estimates which dwarf the numbers of faithful who turned out for the last papal visit in 2008.
    — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Filmmakers are billing it as the first faithful adaptation of London’s novel because it will be made from Buck’s subjective experience.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of faithful
Adjective
  • The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has bundled the four services every pilgrim needs — holy site arrangements, lodging in Mecca and Medina, transport, and catering — into a single electronic agreement on one government platform.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • How could one holy book give its readers such seemingly contradictory directives?
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 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 4 Oct. 2026.

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