SAINTLY Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

saintly

adjective

ˈsānt-lē

Definition of saintly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 saintly Prudhomme smiles with saintly patience as a gentleman takes an age to take a selfie. — Andy McGrath, New York Times, 11 July 2026 As if value just floats in thin air and evil aldermen are firing bazookas in its saintly direction. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 That’s not to say Rastignac is portrayed as a saintly figure. — Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026 Nigel once again steps in as a saintly father figure with access to a to-die-for sample closet. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for saintly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for saintly

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

Followers believed the devout earned their place in the afterlife through good acts.

— Noelle Crombie, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026
In 1960, the year Pruitt was born, the Census counted 876 people living on Tangier, an isolated offshore island known for its devout religiosity and, more recently, its flooding, sinking land.

— John Anglim, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of devout

Adjective

Kerr is a longtime Democrat whose father Malcolm was assassinated by religious extremists in 1984 while the elder Kerr served as the president of the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

— Liam Russell, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2026
Organizers say anyone is welcome to join — religious or not — and that the goal is to leave with a deeper understanding of those who live alongside us.

— Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of religious

Adjective

McDoom is mostly more reverent toward her acid-folk references than her Jamaican ones.

— Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
Brought from the page to the gallery wall, Loran’s diagram looks a bit like anti-art rather than reverent analysis of a masterpiece.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of reverent

Browse Nearby Words

saintliness

saintly

saints

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Saintly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saintly. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of saintly

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

impertinent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes