pious Definition
pi·ous (pī′əs)
adjective
- having or showing religious devotion; zealous in the performance of religious obligations
- springing from actual or pretended religious devotion or moral motives
- seemingly virtuous; affecting virtue hypocritically
- sacred, as distinguished from secular or profane
- Archaic having or showing a sense of duty and loyalty to family, friends, etc.
Etymology: L pius, pious, devout, affectionate, good, prob. < IE *pwīyos < base *peu-, to clean > L purus, pure
pious Related Forms
pi′·ously adverb
pi′·ous·ness noun
pious Synonyms
pious
modif.
pious Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- platitude: Stood beside him putting forth his own pious platitudes was Tony Blair.
- devotion: It may be that sometimes it is just a pious devotion with no deep theological background.
- sentiment: These are not mere pious sentiments but the very promises of God on which we all depend.
- founder: Even today La Cartuja is still giving up the secrets of its pious founders ' past.
- fraud: A great deal of pious fraud went on in writings of the ancient world.
Modifying Another Word
- very: The purpose of the European Union is a very divine purpose, a very pious purpose, a very religious purpose.
- too: Sergeant, still in contemplative mode, chips in that we should not get too pious about a low turnout.
- so: He was revered by many as a saint because he was so pious.
- not: She was rather stout than otherwise, and she was not pious; moreover, she was not anxious on Jim's account.
- deeply: At the same time the author concedes that he was not deeply pious.
Used with adjective complement
- become: However, Allah has made fasting compulsory so that we become pious, God-fearing and God-conscious.
- sound: It sounds so pious to say, 'I'll just rely on the Lord ' , but it isn't Scriptural.
- get: Sergeant, still in contemplative mode, chips in that we should not get too pious about a low turnout.
Browse dictionary entries near pious
- pip ›
- pipage ›
- pipal ›
- pipe ›
- pipe bomb ›
- pipe clay ›
- pipe cleaner ›
- pipe cutter ›
- pipe down ›
- pipe dream ›

