FEALTIES Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fealty' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fealty are allegiance , devotion , fidelity , loyalty , and piety . While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow. // fealty to the truth

Q: Where would 'allegiance' be a reasonable alternative to 'fealty'?

While the synonyms allegiance and fealty are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country. // pledging allegiance

Q: In what contexts can 'devotion' take the place of 'fealty'?

The meanings of devotion and fealty largely overlap; however, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication. // a painter's devotion to her art

Q: When could 'fidelity' be used to replace 'fealty'?

While in some cases nearly identical to fealty , fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. // marital fidelity

Q: When would 'loyalty' be a good substitute for 'fealty'?

The words loyalty and fealty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray. // valued the loyalty of his friends

Q: When might 'piety' be a better fit than 'fealty'?

The synonyms piety and fealty are sometimes interchangeable, but piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental. // filial piety

fealty

noun

ˈfē(-ə)l-tē

Definition of fealty

as in allegiance

adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty as much as I wanted to back my friend up, my fealty to the truth was greater, and I could not lie for him

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How is the word fealty distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fealty are allegiance, devotion, fidelity, loyalty, and piety. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

Where would allegiance be a reasonable alternative to fealty?

While the synonyms allegiance and fealty are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

In what contexts can devotion take the place of fealty?

The meanings of devotion and fealty largely overlap; however, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When could fidelity be used to replace fealty?

While in some cases nearly identical to fealty, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

When would loyalty be a good substitute for fealty?

The words loyalty and fealty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

When might piety be a better fit than fealty?

The synonyms piety and fealty are sometimes interchangeable, but piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

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 fealty This blatant expression of fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Rhaenyra’s men come later that night and demand Aegon and Tyland declare their fealty. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Then there is one overriding factor in the current political climate — a GOP that pays fealty to a president with little support among residents in the state’s most populous counties. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 After falsely bending the knee to Daemon (Matt Smith), pretending to swear fealty to Rhaenyra, and handing over a decoy Daeron, Ormund decamped with his army to the unfortified market town of Tumbleton. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fealty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fealty

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

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 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

Noun

The company also uses a digital thread of the helicopter’s operational flight program to develop high-fidelity simulations in days rather than years, allowing training systems to keep pace with aircraft modernization.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
And according to showrunner Brad Caleb Kane, there are reasons beyond franchise fidelity for setting the show in the ’70s.

— Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fidelity

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fealty

fear

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

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