1
as in spiritual
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the most beautiful religious music in the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
a deeply religious woman who eventually decided to quit her job and to become a nun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling
a woman known for embracing various causes with a religious enthusiasm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of religious
Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025
Teachers, students — from middle school to college — members of the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force, religious leaders and local residents turned out to speak.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025
Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for religious 
Adjective
Despite its biblical implications, the tattoo caused a stir among her religious friends.
—Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025
Teachers, students — from middle school to college — members of the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force, religious leaders and local residents turned out to speak.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020
See all Example Sentences for religious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for religious
Adjective
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The charity provides holistic support, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the children and their families, Kensington Palace said.—
Rosa Rahimi,
CNN,
30 Jan. 2025
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The shrinking ranks of American donors matters because philanthropy plays a prominent role in fulfilling Americans’ spiritual, intellectual and material needs and aspirations for people of all backgrounds.—
Una Osili,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The pious townspeople eat food for sustenance, not enjoyment, and for over a decade Babette dutifully prepares a rather drab-looking bread soup for the sisters, per their instructions.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
21 Dec. 2024
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And yet something about her pious active listening face really gets to Urs.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And clients who are passionate about the outdoors will find a good match here too, as the team also offers landscape and exterior design services.—
Dan Howarth,
Architectural Digest,
30 Jan. 2025
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The superstar joined Jennifer Hudson on the latter’s daytime talk show, where Hudson asked Rowland what inspired her passionate uplifting of her fellow women.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He’s already asked fellowship communities in Southern California to organize food and clothing drives, while monks and nuns at the group’s center in Mount Washington are offering spiritual counseling over the phone.—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
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But, as tuition climbed (partly to cover the salaries of lay teachers who replaced nuns), the student body skewed wealthier.—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As fires rage and climate destruction grows, the Trump administration has signaled a shift to more mining and drilling, to rolling back protection for sacred sites like Bears Ears National Monument, and to rewriting the rules that govern policies like the Endangered Species Act.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
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There are certain characters in the One Chicago universe that are sacred and who many would agree should be protected at all costs.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Between the lines: Hegseth, who's been married three times, portrays himself as a family man and devout Christian.—
Mike Allen,
Axios,
14 Jan. 2025
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This represents a substantive shift among the faithful: For decades, women were always more devout, both in U.S. churches and around the world.—
Jacob Turcotte,
The Christian Science Monitor,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Now, Trump has four years of White House experience while Vance is a novice.—
Roy Brownell,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Jan. 2025
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While a novice might think that selecting the right fly is the key to catching fish, seasoned anglers know that meticulous attention to every element of the fishing process leads to a rewarding day on the water.—
Brennan Drew,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Episcopal Church is a Protestant denomination that shares similarities with the Catholic Church, such as in its liturgical practice and parts of its hierarchy.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA TODAY,
23 Jan. 2025
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Advent is the start of the Christian church's liturgical year.—
Joyce Orlando,
The Tennessean,
29 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near religious
Cite this Entry
“Religious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/religious. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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