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

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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 Others regard the unum as a pious myth. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 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 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

The religious approach appealed to devout Catholics such as Velazquez, an immigrant from Mexico who spent three decades without status in the country, cutting hair from her home and cleaning houses when business was slow.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Ade, a devout Christian and the family’s sole breadwinner, struggles to understand her younger sister Titi, an aspiring singer whose independent spirit challenges convention.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of devout

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

Around them, an aristocratic winemaker defines his legacy, a legendary maître d’hôtel seeks his heir, and a reverent wine critic pursues the sublime.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
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

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

Once upon a time, Herzog was the crazy visionary, determined at all costs to realize his aesthetic ambitions to feel more, to see deeper, to explore the madness of the world, a bit of a holy fool himself.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Most Indians were part of groups visiting the Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash in Tibet, holy pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

— Reuters, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of holy

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pioneers

pious

piousness

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“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of pious

adjective

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