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 next

as in religion

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Examples 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 Some young people call for the right to display visible markers of Islamic piety in public spaces and many advocate for Islam to be integrated into school curricula. —

Marlene Laruelle, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2017 Even so, Vance’s inclusion on the ticket represents a different idea of how Trump can engage the Party’s élite than Pence’s elevation did in 2016: less piety, more cultural war, a willingness to push economic nationalism a step further. —

Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 In an interview with The Republic days after the arrest, Al-Sayyed noted that many Muslim women wear the hijab as an expression of modesty, privacy, and piety. —

Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024 The Irish writer who relocated to Paris, found inspiration in the French language and became one of the most innovative literary artists of the second half of the 20th century, was allergic to the uplifting pieties and sentimental profundities that are the mainstay of screen biographies. —

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for piety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piety

Noun

Randall Balmer, a religion professor at Dartmouth College, discusses why evangelical Christians turned away from social activism.

Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
What most self-publishers seemed to want to do back then was share their own stories to prove a point about politics, law, or religion.

Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 11 Dec. 2024