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
Haynes will enter Congress as a first-time federal lawmaker, bringing his experience in religious leadership and community advocacy to Washington. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 Lancaster County’s rate is 88%, with rates lower in the county’s religious and other private schools than in public schools, according to an AP review of state data. — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 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
  • Joe cut his teeth by working his way up the ranks; also maybe by hanging around a lot when dad Jack Buck broadcast for years from most of the sacred citadels of sports.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In Congress, Grijalva is preparing legislation to void existing waivers that have allowed DHS to disregard laws designed to protect tribal sovereignty, sacred sites and environmentally sensitive lands.
    — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of sacred
Adjective
  • The Chicano values of the younger generation aren’t in alignment with the political orientation of the pious old guard.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But the overall picture of religious infighting in 1640s Britain is essential to understanding how some people, especially poorer folk and especially women, found themselves on the wrong side of powerful, pious opponents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of pious
Adjective
  • Their love story is passionate, funny, intellectual, and deeply alive, until a single, tragic wave on a beach in Oaxaca changes everything.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026
  • As the National Transportation Safety Board investigates what weather, mechanical or tactical factors caused the crash, family members and former mentors are remembering the young pilot as passionate and talented beyond her 20 years.
    — Zoey Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of passionate
Noun
  • Per People, Madonna—perhaps appropriately—chose to go as the Weeping Madonna statue, and Morris was dressed as a nun.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Another at the same party went as Rihanna as a nun for an Interview magazine cover.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of nun
Adjective
  • At the heart of this approach is the belief that each child has a right to holistic, empathetic care during illness and throughout end of their life that considers their unique social, cultural, physical and spiritual needs.
    — Emilee Flynn, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026
  • As Lefens mixes spiritual elements with the quotidian, the novel examines the paradoxes of safety, responsibility, and trust.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • And a few hours later (and a little further left of pop stardom’s center), two other artists with highly devout followings also drew signifcant buzz for teaming up on record for the first time.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, Ali stars as Latif, a devout Muslim and contract killer who travels across Houston in an effort to protect his three children following the death of his wife.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 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
  • By July, morale among immigration officers had dipped below its nadir during the Biden Administration, with agents now complaining of being overextended, inundated with novice recruits, and undermined by inflammatory rhetoric from on high.
    — Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Thomas was a novice attorney who had already run and lost as the Republican candidate for state attorney general.
    — Michael Kiefer, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of novice

Browse Nearby Words

religiose
religious
religiousness
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Cite this Entry

“Religious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religious. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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