PIETY Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of piety are allegiance , devotion , fealty , fidelity , and loyalty . While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental. // filial piety

Q: When would 'allegiance' be a good substitute for 'piety'?

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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'devotion' instead of 'piety'?

While in some cases nearly identical to piety , devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication. // a painter's devotion to her art

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

Although the words fealty and piety have much in common, fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow. // fealty to the truth

Q: When can 'fidelity' be used instead of 'piety'?

The meanings of fidelity and piety largely overlap; however, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. // marital fidelity

Q: When could 'loyalty' be used to replace 'piety'?

The synonyms loyalty and piety are sometimes interchangeable, but loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray. // valued the loyalty of his friends

piety

noun

ˈpī-ə-tē

Definition of piety

as in religion

belief and trust in and loyalty to God her piety is quiet but profound

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as in holiness

the quality or state of being spiritually pure or virtuous among fellow clerics he is respected and admired for his piety

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in devotion

adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty familial piety keeps me from refusing to help my brother in this financial crisis

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word piety distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of piety are allegiance, devotion, fealty, fidelity, and loyalty. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

When would allegiance be a good substitute for piety?

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

pledging allegiance

When is it sensible to use devotion instead of piety?

While in some cases nearly identical to piety, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When might fealty be a better fit than piety?

Although the words fealty and piety have much in common, fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

When can fidelity be used instead of piety?

The meanings of fidelity and piety largely overlap; however, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

When could loyalty be used to replace piety?

The synonyms loyalty and piety are sometimes interchangeable, but loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

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 piety To be a nation founded on an ideal makes our love of country a more vital force than any instinctive pieties of blood and soil. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 While this is considered a trait of piety and beauty in art, it may have been caused by Simonetta’s pituitary tumor. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 June 2026 Eventually, Inaba looks after Mii with all the loyalty, piety, and sometimes uncomfortable intimacy of a person caring for their aging parent. — Literary Hub, 15 June 2026 Honoring Catalonia’s Christian traditions Earlier Wednesday, Leo celebrated the centuries-old Catalan tradition of popular piety by praying at Montserrat, a mountain complex outside the city that is dear to many Catalans. — Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for piety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piety

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

But your compassion, your kind heart, and your holiness are what really elevate you in my eyes.

— Scott Detrow, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
Soul is a synonym for God, or Spirit, and expresses the vast and eternal beauty of holiness, reflected in man and the universe.

— Dilshad Khambatta Eames, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of holiness

Noun

Goldhirsh and Bouchon say the payphones project has restored their faith in the country at what feels like a pivotal time.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
El-Sayed, who would be the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected, has been asked frequently about his faith and attacked for it.

— Erin Cox, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of faith

Noun

But in recent years, Brand has publicly pivoted to an influencer and podcaster focused on spirituality and heavily leaning toward anti-government conspiracies.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
The spirituality throughout is imbued with a solemn reverence more Catholic than Baptist.

— Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of spirituality

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

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pietists

piety

piffle

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“Piety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piety. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of piety

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