PIOUSNESS Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

piousness

noun

Definition of piousness

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

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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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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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piousness

Noun

Most often, this would be a network of fake accounts discovered by social media companies as part of their efforts to eliminate bots, scams, and online deception on their platforms.

— RENÉE DIRESTA, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
In writing her for the series, Kazan realized Cathy, despite her deceptions, is almost always telling the truth.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

But your compassion, your kind heart, and your holiness are what really elevate you in my eyes.

— Scott Detrow, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
Soul is a synonym for God, or Spirit, and expresses the vast and eternal beauty of holiness, reflected in man and the universe.

— Dilshad Khambatta Eames, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of holiness

Noun

Defending Israel's military strikes, Netanyahu blasted the dramatic hall exit as mind-blowing hypocrisy that ignores the global threat posed by Iran.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
That these sort of games, with their duplicity, hypocrisies and teary moments of tenderness, are popular is beyond question, and that is certainly how viewers are invited to watch.

— Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of hypocrisy

Noun

Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.

— Sue Brightman, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025

Definition of deceptiveness

Noun

With rare exceptions, EV sound is little more than an affectation.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
Robinhood's banking product arrived with private-bank affectations, estate planning, event access, cash to the door, priced at $5 a month inside a bundle a 30-year-old already pays for.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of affectation

Noun

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.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Allen’s combo of flip insincerity and kindly concern is a terrific treat, recalling Bill Murray at his doofy best.

— Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025

Definition of insincerity

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pious

piousness

pip

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“Piousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piousness. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of piousness

noun

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