PIOUS Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

pious

adjective

ˈpī-əs

Definition of pious

as in steadfast

firm in one's allegiance to someone or something a pious supporter of his school's athletic teams, during winning and losing seasons alike

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in devout

showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue a pious woman who decided to become a nun

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pious However, this distinction did more than pit pious Americans against an atheist enemy. — David Williamson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026 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 The aim wasn’t to make the chatbot Bible-thumping or pious. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 26 May 2026 Maria, austere and deeply pious, runs the business with an iron hand, obsessed with making the family’s origins forgotten. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pious

Adjective

But the same steadfast pursuit that’s placed the attorney at the center of nearly every call for racial justice in the past decade has earned Crump more than a few detractors.

— Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
In spite of the steadfast testimony of those who went over the antlers as meticulously as anyone could, there are still many detractors.

— Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of steadfast

Adjective

But its higher average viewership suggests it is watched consistently by a smaller and more loyal audience.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Intelligence officers loyal to the army, known as the Sudanese Armed Forces, charged him with spreading fake news.

— Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of loyal

Adjective

Most are men between the ages of 18 and 49, without a college degree, earning less than $50,000 a year, less religious than average, and likely to also drink alcohol.

— Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, Plano, Texas, business owners who have been married for 34 years, were in the area for a religious journey to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of religious

Adjective

Already known as a 2020 election denier and staunch Trump supporter, Collins was popular among Georgia's MAGA base.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Doing so would further derail trade talks with one of America’s staunchest allies, which denies treating Coupang differently than Korean companies.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of staunch

Adjective

These movies always run the risk of being overly reverent, and for better and worse, Johnson’s take on Bourdain’s formative years is not concerned with reverence.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
The Lost Boys gave us the chance to create something that feels reverent toward the film while still staking its own claim.

— Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of reverent

Adjective

Cover band performs faithful covers of Journey’s iconic classic rock hits.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
But for a political reporter, the gathering offers a chance to hear how the candidates message to the party faithful and check in with party loyalists on their mood ahead of the fall election.

— Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of faithful

Adjective

The first few generations of holy men who led Idaho’s congregations died, and no one took their place.

— Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
And make this little holy moment for yourself, this little spiritual realization of a kind of balance or play in your physical environment and that will heal you.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of holy

Browse Nearby Words

pioneers

pious

piousness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pious

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

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

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes