1
as in loyal
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
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
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 pious
Emilien Hofman (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
On one hand, the nun has a pious profession.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
If some punters were irritatingly pious, many also had the time of their life.
—Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025
The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pious
Adjective
Contemporary accounts describe Antoine as a pious person, initially committed to Catholicism, then to spiritualism.
—Emilien Hofman (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
On one hand, the nun has a pious profession.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2025
If some punters were irritatingly pious, many also had the time of their life.
—Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025
The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pious
Adjective
-
The loyal throngs of fans that stuck around, even as the crowd dwindled, were duly rewarded when, a few hours later, Lorde arrived in the flesh to perform.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The controversy alienated even our party’s most loyal supporters who felt that party bosses, not Democratic primary voters, were deciding which candidate would emerge in the general election as the Democratic nominee.—
Ken Martin,
Time,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And hey, even the most devout among us can't argue with that.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The Kremlin and its far-right proxies now paint Ivan as a great statesman and devout Russian Orthodox Christian who laid the foundations of the Russian Empire.—
Dina Khapaeva,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Erosion Of Trust Through Inconsistent Words Many people associate the breakdown of trust with major betrayals like infidelity or deception.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Warrantless search and seizure, deception, untrammeled use of force.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
For a generation raised to believe that holiness was synonymous with flawlessness, Francis offered something radically different and deeply freeing: a Christianity rooted in the grace of mercy.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Jesus told the woman to leave her life of sin and walk in a new life of holiness.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Decade after decade, the city remains steadfast in the face of adversity.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Among those who left in time, some remained steadfast in their lifelong friendships, as did their children.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Francis urged political leaders to guard against religious extremism and warned Catholics not to force their faith on others during a 2024 visit to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
On Monday morning, the world lost more than a religious leader.—
John Hope Bryant,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The rousing shanty is already a knowing commentary on class and hypocrisy.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
-
That makes for a logical disconnect, and palpable hypocrisy.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Durk’s growing influence in prison underscores a dramatic shift in the rapper’s approach to adversity—one that is rooted in resilience, spirituality, and community.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Venus and Saturn in Pisces urge you to explore love in ways that transcend the mundane, whether through travel, spirituality or learning.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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