religious 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈli-jəs How to pronounce religious (audio)
Definition of religiousnext
1
as in sacred
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the most beautiful religious music in the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue a deeply religious woman who eventually decided to quit her job and to become a nun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling a woman known for embracing various causes with a religious enthusiasm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

religious

2 of 2

noun

as in nun

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 religious
Adjective
Minister Christian Watkins, with NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, said that organizers included religious leaders in recognition that faith drove Lewis' activism. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Sisters in the same religious order share housing, nutrition and health care for most of their adult lives. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Noun
As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020 See All Example Sentences for religious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for religious
  1. sacred
  2. pious
  3. passionate
  4. nun
  5. spiritual
  6. devout
  7. passional
  8. novice
Adjective
  • As a voracious reader, few places are as sacred to me as in bed at night with my book light and my book and a good bookmark is also a must-have.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • But the Deadheads also evince an honest yearning for something that’s tribal, primitive, sacred, ancient, shamanic, ecstatic.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 July 2026
Definition of sacred
Adjective
  • Philemon and Baucis, a pious Phrygian couple, hospitably received the disguised Zeus and Hermes after their richer neighbors had refused to do so.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
  • This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of pious
Adjective
  • That Beyoncé slot came off the back of a firm but passionate letter Nia wrote to protest the lack of a dance-music category at the UK’s MOBO awards.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • This success contrasts sharply with the struggling Mets, despite both being NYC franchises with passionate fans.
    — Robert Reiss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of passionate
Noun
  • Parish officials posting on social media brought attention to Ugboaja’s arrest, and Congress members ultimately intervened on the nun’s behalf.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • The nun study, launched in 1990 with 678 members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, is back in focus after a 2025 scientific review reexamined what the project taught researchers about aging and dementia.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Definition of nun
Adjective
  • Only the Avatar, a spiritual figure reincarnated with each subsequent generation, can bend all four elements at once.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Bhajan clubbing has brought Hindu tradition to the dance floor, providing a sober and spiritual nightlife experience.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 July 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • While Auguste and two of Damien’s older sisters, Eugenie and Pauline, were being prepared for religious service by devout Anne-Catherine, Frans wanted Jozef for the farm.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • The film unfolds in a devout fishing community on Malaysia’s East Coast, following two young lovers, Jani and Melur, whose plans for the future are upended by an unplanned pregnancy, poverty and addiction, pushing Jani toward the drug trade.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2026
Definition of devout
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Definition of passional
Noun
  • The quick alignment will be a boon to the novice politician, who is simultaneously planning Lindsey Graham’s funeral, serving in his seat via appointment, and launching a snap campaign.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 20 July 2026
  • The buyers, Jung said, are not simply novice traders chasing online hype.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Blair Baek, CNBC, 20 July 2026
Definition of novice

Browse Nearby Words

religiose
religious
religiousness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Religious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religious. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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