1
as in loyal
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something
a pious supporter of his school's athletic teams, during winning and losing seasons alike
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devout
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
a pious woman who decided to become a nun
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pious
In the first dark hours of June 14, prosecutors say, the pious Boelter, 57, set out to commit a crime that would break a commandment.
—
Dan Barry, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025
Those healthy enough were put through a daily regimen of religious education and physical schooling intended to train them to be pious and obedient.
—Ann Foster, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2025
Moyers’ preacher-like delivery and emphasis on high moral standards in his commentaries led some people to criticize him as being a pious scold.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Chronicles is set in a tiny Argentinian town where a pious yet competitive woman decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pious
Dan Barry, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025
Those healthy enough were put through a daily regimen of religious education and physical schooling intended to train them to be pious and obedient.
—Ann Foster, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2025
Moyers’ preacher-like delivery and emphasis on high moral standards in his commentaries led some people to criticize him as being a pious scold.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Chronicles is set in a tiny Argentinian town where a pious yet competitive woman decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pious
Adjective
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Somehow, the upper hand never lingers long with Sally and Barnaby, drolly played by Gunning and Corden as a conniving Tweedledee and Tweedledum, loyal to no one and convinced their venality is justified by their father’s history of terrible parenting.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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Unlike the last two prime ministers, Lecornu has been a loyal lieutenant at the center of the president’s project in government, Lazar said.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His devout love for these sneakers has also turned my grandma into a convert, and now the two happily sport their Kiziks all over Thailand, walking from food stall to food stall.—
Alexandra Domrongchai,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Aug. 2025
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The governor and first lady Maria Lee, both devout Christians, have been involved in missionary work and have helped refugees in the Nashville area.—
Kelly Puente,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Our administration must remain steadfast in ensuring that those who put in the work receive the benefits of their efforts.—
Ruth Vitale,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
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The engineering professor is steadfast that nearly all jobs will be taken over by AI—even most of the ones that have a special human touch, like teachers and car drivers.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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How the courts and legislatures balance the rights of the majority and minority in these disputes over the place of the Ten Commandments in public life may go a long way toward shaping the future of religious freedom in American public education.—
Lydia Artz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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Families in Florida can also seek temporary or permanent exemptions for medical or religious reasons.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Gaines, a staunch advocate for women’s rights, called out a Minnesota high school whose softball team won a state championship in June with a transgender pitcher rostered on the team.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Everyone is done with her, perhaps no one more than Jess, once her staunch defender.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The submissions tell a story of Massachusetts that is equal parts reverent and irreverent, with Bay Staters leaning on history while having fun with their future.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Stanton’s voice, once critical of Lincoln, became reverent by the time of his assassination.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Some were faithful copies, while others were reproduced in different colors or fabrics to lend a visual unity to the scene, which is designed to mirror the eerie fairy-tale aesthetic of the fashion film within the film.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
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Much of that popularity is thanks to a concerted campaign by the Vatican to give the next generation of faithful a relatable, modern-day role model, who used his technological talents to spread the faith.—
Jessie Wardarski,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Acutis' canonization marks a deliberate Vatican effort to present contemporary, relatable holy figures who can speak to younger generations about faith lived in the digital age.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Shops sell his memorabilia — the boy's face encased in a corona of holy light is on mugs, keychains, rosaries.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pious. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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