as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
a saintly man who devoted his life to caring for the dying
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Recent Examples of saintly
Being forced to compare themselves to their saintly new father also forces them to reassess their own moral standings.
—
Ben Brooks
july 17, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
Martin Scorsese will be back to tell more saintly tales.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 June 2025
Luckily for them, Jonathan decided to take the longest water break in the history of The Amazing Race, much to the detriment of his very patient and saintly wife.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
The contrast between the saintly behavior expected of these evangelists and their less-than-righteous day-to-day lives is a reliable, ever-replenishing fountain of comedy, as everlasting as the Lord’s love.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saintly
Ben Brooks
july 17, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
Martin Scorsese will be back to tell more saintly tales.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 June 2025
Luckily for them, Jonathan decided to take the longest water break in the history of The Amazing Race, much to the detriment of his very patient and saintly wife.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
The contrast between the saintly behavior expected of these evangelists and their less-than-righteous day-to-day lives is a reliable, ever-replenishing fountain of comedy, as everlasting as the Lord’s love.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saintly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saintly
Adjective
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All of this is impressive enough, but there are tales that the bible was written in a single night by none other than the Dark Lord himself, not a pious scribe.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Dec. 2025
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The suspects may seem pious, but which of them committed the ultimate sin of murder?—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
13 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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While the bulk of this story follows the normal progression of life-saving treatment, there are a few things that make this couple, devout Catholics, see a deeper cause at work.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Dec. 2025
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Some of the founders were indeed devout Christians and these folks cherry-pick Christian quotations from them.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Last year’s version, which withered on the Senate’s calendar, also included religious organizations.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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Researchers also reported a large building that may have served as a public religious or civic structure (often described as a candidate for a mosque/madrasa/bathhouse).—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The movement had adherents among the student body and on the faculty at the Catholic University in Chiclayo, which has about ten thousand students, and the cathedral boasted an enormous portrait of Josemaria Escrivá, Opus Dei’s sainted founder.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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The jobs that Biden wanted and did create are the same ones that Trump hates: wind, solar, electric vehicles, the usual gang of sainted Democratic projects.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Mashhad is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest in Shiite Islam, making the protests there carry heavy significance for the country's theocracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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An administrative office and library were charred by the flames, according to multiple reports, and several Torahs, Jewish holy texts rolled into large scrolls, were ruined or damaged.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Inside, the mood was hushed, reverent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Dec. 2025
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It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Saintly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saintly. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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