First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
pious
adjective pi·ous \ˈpī-əs\
: deeply religious : devoted to a particular religion
: falsely appearing to be good or moral
Full Definition of PIOUS
1
a : marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship b : marked by conspicuous religiosity <a hypocrite—a thing all pious words and uncharitable deeds — Charles Reade>
3
: showing loyal reverence for a person or thing : dutiful
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Examples of PIOUS
- We must ask to what extent, and at however unconscious a level, a conflict arises in the pious political mind when it is sworn to uphold the civil religion of the Constitution. —E. L. Doctorow, Free Inquiry, October/November 2008
- But our problem is the lack of any shared or coherent attitude toward the rest of the world, without which, as Judt acknowledges, Europe exists in pieces, an outsize Switzerland held together by nothing more solid than pious sentiment. —Nicholas Fraser, Harper's, May 2006
- The other side of the masonry block was covered with a web of ancient graffiti, she said, left by pious visitors to the tomb. —Tom Mueller, Atlantic, October 2003
- The news offered so many occasions for pious or ribald commentary that any chance of agreement about what any of it meant was lost in a vast din of clucking and sniggering. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, August 1997
- Japanese schools have another eccentricity, which is the pious, Sunday-school-like enthusiasm of students and teachers alike for education about values. Teachers sometimes sound so saccharine that they would make Mr. Rogers look like a cynic. —Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times Magazine, 17 Aug. 1997
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Origin of PIOUS
Middle English, from Latin pius
Related to PIOUS
- Synonyms
- constant, dedicated, devoted, devout, down-the-line, fast, good, loyal, faithful, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true, true-blue
- Antonyms
- disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue
Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms
PIOUSNESS Defined for Kids
pious
adjective pi·ous \ˈpī-əs\
Definition of PIOUS for Kids
: showing devotion to God
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