Synonyms of religious

religious 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈli-jəs 

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

• spiritual
• sacred
• liturgical
• devotional
• holy
• ritual
• solemn
• consecrated
• blest
• sacramental
• sacrosanct
• blessed
• sanctified
• hallowed
• semireligious
• semisacred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secular
• nonreligious
• profane
• earthly
• worldly
• terrestrial
• mundane
• terrene

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

• pious
• devout
• spiritual
• holy
• reverent
• godly
• ascetical
• saintly
• ascetic
• sainted
• venerable
• moral
• worshipful
• prayerful
• pietistic
• reverential
• blessed
• pure
• blest
• religiose
• virtuous
• angelic
• angelical
• chaste
• righteous
• cherubic
• canonized
• beatified
• upright

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• irreligious
• secular
• godless
• antireligious
• impious
• unholy
• faithless
• ungodly
• blasphemous
• irreverent
• worldly
• sacrilegious
• profane
• nonreligious
• unspiritual
• evil
• unfaithful
• sinful
• immoral
• desecrating
• profanatory
• wicked
• backsliding
• unrighteous
• iniquitous
• sinning
• miscreant

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

• passionate
• passional
• emotional
• fervent
• warm
• intense
• ardent
• demonstrative
• charged
• enthusiastic
• fiery
• glowing
• impassioned
• burning
• fervid
• incandescent
• perfervid
• flaming
• vehement
• feverish
• sentimental
• superheated
• blazing
• torrid
• red-hot
• warm-blooded
• hot-blooded
• on fire
• zealous
• mawkish
• melodramatic
• histrionic
• saccharine
• sugary
• sloppy
• sappy
• mushy
• gushy
• obsessed
• schmaltzy
• maudlin
• gung ho
• uninhibited
• orgiastic
• keen
• infatuated
• frenzied
• enamored
• unrestrained
• unreserved
• gushing
• overemotional
• overheated
• overexcited

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cold
• dispassionate
• cool
• impersonal
• objective
• impassive
• dry
• detached
• unemotional
• emotionless
• reserved
• undemonstrative

religious

2 of 2

noun

as in nun

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nun
• novice
• anchoress
• mother superior
• Reverend Mother
• votary
• ecclesiastic
• monastic
• prioress
• clerical
• priestess
• abbess
• conventual
• preacher
• cloistress
• monk
• friar
• divine
• ancress
• mendicant
• cleric
• sister
• reverend
• high priestess
• diocesan
• deaconess
• clergyman
• pope
• bishop
• deacon
• clergyperson
• oblate
• archbishop
• prelate
• clergywoman
• dominie
• abbot
• churchman
• pastor
• minister
• dean
• high priest
• chaplain
• vicar
• curé
• missionary
• presbyter
• clerk
• monsignor
• padre
• abbé
• parson
• rector
• Holy Joe
• revivalist
• curate
• shepherd
• father
• confessor
• archpriest
• sky pilot
• missioner
• evangelist
• missionizer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secular
• layman
• lay reader
• layperson
• lector

Examples of religious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Ron Gutman with local spiritual and religious leader, Khedrupchen Rinpoche, during his October 2024 trip in Bhutan. —Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2024

Hinchcliffe also made jokes targeting other racial or religious minorities, including both the Black and Jewish communities. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2024

Noun