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
as in nun
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of religious
Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Pan is known nationally for leading California’s effort to eliminate religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026
Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020
See All Example Sentences for religious
Adjective
The American Academy of Pediatrics hasn’t taken a definitive stance on male circumcision, saying parents should weigh risks, benefits and other factors such as religious teachings.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
Pan is known nationally for leading California’s effort to eliminate religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 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
Adjective
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The Midwest is home to the history of sophisticated Indigenous villages and sacred landscapes.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Moreover, Christian humanists believe the sacred-secular divide that many Christians embrace is not just artificial but profoundly misguided.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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In Wake-Keeper (2026), a roughly four-by-five-foot canvas, a pious man draped in the red cloth of traditional Ghanaian funeral attire sits on a stool with his hands clasped, his body facing the left side of the frame.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
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The aim wasn’t to make the chatbot Bible-thumping or pious.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Bonner brought the bull market with him to CSUF, bringing his pressing, pestering and passionate style of play to a fanbase starved for success.—
Brian Robin,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
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Madison Square Garden is set to be filled to the brim Monday night with passionate Knicks fans decked out in their orange and blue pride, but eyes may be on what two of the most powerful New Yorkers will be doing during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Sylvie and Suzanna lock into a stalemate on the subject until Sylvie finally permits a nun named Sister Claudine to shuttle the girl between Manhattan and Hillcrest.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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Like the nun Beate before her, Susanna seems destined, as punishment for her overwhelming ardor, to be walled into the convent.—
Caroline Lillian Schopp,
Artforum,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Nearly 4 million practice tai chi, and roughly 14% of adults practice some form of mindful or spiritual meditation.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
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Recently, church officials and sociologists alike have pointed to indications that young Spaniards are showing an increasing interest in their spiritual lives, with anecdotal reports of rises in conversions among young adults.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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She was controlled, socially formidable, devout, exacting and sometimes devastatingly funny.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
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Our father was a devout Christian and a devoted, loving, family man.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson occupies one of the most powerful positions in state government and faces an election from a complete novice.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
10 June 2026
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The veteran politician Becerra received nearly 28% of the vote, and the political novice and former Fox News contributor Hilton received 25%, according to the AP.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Religious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religious. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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