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
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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
-
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
-
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
-
She was described as a happy, devout child who loved reading.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
And nearly all socialists, like most other Oklahomans, were devout Christians.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But beyond his professional accomplishments, Andy was a special person and a dear and loyal friend.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
Here’s everything to know about her mental health history and the religious influence that allegedly distorted her beliefs.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
At a massive commemoration marking the anniversary of the Eaton fire this week, local religious leaders read the names of the 19 people who died in the blaze.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
LaMalfa, a staunch Trump supporter, put much of his focus on boosting federal water supplies to farmers, and seeking to reduce environmental restrictions on logging and extraction of other natural resources.—
Joseph Serna,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Russia, a staunch ally of Venezuela, supported Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s request for a Security Council hearing.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside, the mood was hushed, reverent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Dec. 2025
-
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
-
The story is based on popular romance author Emily Henry's 2021 novel of the same name, and while the movie is generally faithful to the book, there are some key changes that readers will notice.—
Ashley Boucher,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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Jordan Brand has now closed the books on the Air Jordan 1‘s 40th anniversary, headlined by the most faithful recreation of the sneaker to date, but the return of an original colorway will help keep the model just as relevant in 2026.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
An irresistible, holy spectacle.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Or does Lux ask us to crane our necks to appreciate base human longing that presents in ecstatic and horrific manifestations, in the hunger for all sorts of holy and unsavory connections?—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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