faith

noun

ˈfāth How to pronounce faith (audio)
Definition of faithnext
1
as in religion
belief and trust in and loyalty to God a people who are known for their strong and steadfast faith

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2
as in cult
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities the city of Jerusalem is sacred to three faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism

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3
as in allegiance
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty after they had to declare bankruptcy, the family found out how much faith their friends had

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4
as in confidence
firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something never having had much faith in banks, the old miser kept his money under the mattress

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5
as in belief
mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon she has complete faith that the universe is controlled by a benevolent Supreme Being with a master plan

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word faith different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of faith are belief, credence, and credit. While all these words mean "assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance," faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

an unshakable faith in God

When can belief be used instead of faith?

While the synonyms belief and faith are close in meaning, belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer.

my belief that I had caught all the errors

When is credence a more appropriate choice than faith?

Although the words credence and faith have much in common, credence suggests intellectual assent without implying anything about grounds for assent.

a theory now given credence by scientists

When is it sensible to use credit instead of faith?

While in some cases nearly identical to faith, credit may imply assent on grounds other than direct proof.

gave full credit to the statement of a reputable witness

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 faith Hammad explores faith, isolation, and some of the contradictions of contemporary Egyptian society. — Essie Assibu, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 The 1 thing Tyler loved more than his teammates, was his faith in Jesus Christ. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026 Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wears his faith on his sleeve and shares it in legal opinions and threatening missives on state letterhead. — Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 But Dream general manager Dan Padover never lost faith that the team could find its way to success. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for faith
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faith
  1. religion
  2. allegiance
  3. confidence
  4. belief
  5. devotion
  6. loyalty
  7. trust
  8. commitment
Noun
  • As a nation, the United States is moving toward knocking down longstanding walls separating religion and government, often ruling in favor of expanding the rights of religious groups.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Perspectives on secular politics were assessed through queries about separating religion from politics; Western-style governance; Islamic government; and sharia law.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of religion
Noun
  • Yet the political alternatives that once dominated the region have lost their capacity to command popular allegiance.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Countries including Nauru, Honduras and Nicaragua have switched allegiances from Taiwan to Beijing in recent years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of allegiance
Noun
  • There’s a huge confidence chasm between those who approve of the country’s leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and those who don’t — just 37% of the latter have faith in the vote.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Alternatively, depression may involve placing too much confidence in outdated forecasts.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of confidence
Noun
  • The exhibition highlights how trade routes connected the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia through the exchange of spices, pearls, textiles, jewelry, and religious beliefs.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The verdict, Wright says, shattered his belief in both the judicial system and religion.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of belief
Noun
  • The Beehive State topped the ranking with its devotion to the Japanese card game.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • There is something about this ethic that a critic should inhabit, as well—a craft of devotion rather than exhibition.
    — Lola Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of devotion
Noun
  • Still, Saudi Arabia has viewed attendance at the event, and general support for the Gulf during turbulent times, as a loyalty test for global business leaders.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Maryland and New Jersey laws focus on groceries, with exceptions for certain loyalty discounts and other promotional offers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of loyalty
Noun
  • The harder challenge, for Silicon Valley and Washington alike, is earning, and deserving, their trust.
    — Will Johnson, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • When Trust Fills The Gap Documentation Leaves When a plan does not answer the questions a client actually has, trust fills the space instead.
    — Deric Ned, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of trust
Noun
  • The analyst believes that Marvell's supply chain commitments give it a competitive edge over rivals as customers seek reliable partners for large-scale infrastructure buildouts.
    — TipRanks.com staff, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Bailey emphasized to us his commitment to improving the state’s schools.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of commitment

Phrases Containing faith

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fairy tales
faith
faithful
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Cite this Entry

“Faith.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faith. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on faith

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about faith

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