Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

religious

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of religious

1 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 of religious

devotional, sacred, spiritual
Words Related to religious

blessed (also blest), consecrated, hallowed, holy, sacrosanct, sanctified

solemn

liturgical, ritual, sacramental

semireligious, semisacred
Near Antonyms of religious

earthly, mundane, terrene, terrestrial, worldly
Antonyms of religious

nonreligious, profane, secular

2 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 of religious

devout, godly, holy, pious, sainted, saintly
Words Related to religious

ascetic (also ascetical), prayerful, reverent, reverential, spiritual, worshipful

pietistic, religiose

beatified, blessed (also blest), canonized, venerable

angelic (or angelical), cherubic

chaste, moral, pure, righteous, upright, virtuous
Near Antonyms of religious

blasphemous, desecrating, irreverent, profanatory, profane, sacrilegious

nonreligious, secular, unspiritual, worldly

backsliding, unfaithful

black, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, sinful, sinning, unrighteous, wicked
Antonyms of religious

antireligious, faithless, godless, impious, irreligious, ungodly, unholy

3 having or expressing great depth of feeling

  • a woman known for embracing various causes with a religious enthusiasm
Synonyms of religious

ardent, blazing, burning, charged, demonstrative, emotional, fervent, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded
Words Related to religious

gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, sugary

histrionic, melodramatic

enthusiastic, gung ho, keen, zealous

enamored, infatuated, obsessed

uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained

frenzied, orgiastic, overemotional, overexcited, overheated
Phrases Synonymous with religious

on fire
Near Antonyms of religious

detached, dry, impersonal, objective

reserved, undemonstrative
Antonyms of religious

cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional

Learn More about religious

  1. See words that rhyme with religious Dictionary: Definition of religious Spanish Central: Translation of religious Nglish: Translation of religious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of religious for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up religious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games