1
as in deception
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have
an outward piousness that was just a ploy to get him the support of religious-minded voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in holiness
the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous
the piousness with which he lived every aspect of his life was an inspiration to the other monks at the abbey
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piousness
At the height of her piousness, Adele is confronted with a substitute English teacher, Bromley Stokes, a hippie from San Francisco, who, to her dismay, changes all the rules of school.
—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Christianity is one of the state’s primary means of control, but for the girls who grew up at the Aunt Lydia School, piousness is real.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Christianity is one of the state’s primary means of control, but for the girls who grew up at the Aunt Lydia School, piousness is real.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piousness
Noun
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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By the time the deception was uncovered, the employee had authorized $25 million in transfers.
Noun
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Others limit prayer to God alone and emphasize remembering saints primarily as historical models of holiness.
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Even adversaries in the Arab world have never sunk to attacking the holiness of the Western Wall.
Noun
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These passages highlight the typically human cruelty and hypocrisy of fighting for one’s own liberty while denying it to one’s neighbors.
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Months after Louis and Schmeling’s first match, the Summer Olympics in Berlin offered another telling indictment of America’s hypocrisy, when Jesse Owens won four golds.
Noun
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The corollary is that paintings that don’t seem to have been purchased by the couple must be empty and flat, without the vein of spirituality that would bring them to life.
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Over a decade ago, Brazilian photographer and filmmaker Viviane D’Avilla traveled to India looking to develop a photography project based on the country’s culture and spirituality.
Noun
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The original trial was found to be invalid due to fraud and deceit.
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And with that comes deceit and manipulation.
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.
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Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.
Noun
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The elder Taylor exuded the easy-going charm of a music legend who is free of any airs or affectations.
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Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society.
Noun
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It was made that much worse when several cast members laughed at her insincerity and Maddi Reese interrupted it several times because there was a stray cat nearby that terrified her.
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Allen’s combo of flip insincerity and kindly concern is a terrific treat, recalling Bill Murray at his doofy best.
Cite this Entry
“Piousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piousness. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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