pious

/'paiəs/

Thân thiện

A pious woman lights a candle in a quiet chapel.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or showing a deep respect for God and religion; devout: Describes a person who is deeply religious and shows their faith through actions, worship, or lifestyle.
   • Characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious: Used negatively to describe an insincere or self-righteous display of religious feeling.
   • (Archaic) Dutiful or loyal, especially to one's parents: An older meaning describing respectful and devoted behavior.

Usage and Examples

• As an adjective (positive, devout sense):
  • She is a pious woman who attends church every day.
  • His pious life was an inspiration to the community.
• As an adjective (negative, hypocritical sense):
  • His pious speeches about charity were at odds with his greedy actions.
  • I dislike her pious attitude; it feels so judgmental.
• As an adjective (archaic sense):
  • The son was pious and cared for his elderly parents. (This usage is now rare.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Pious hope": A hope or wish that is sincere and well-meaning but unlikely to be fulfilled.
  • The notion that the war would end quickly was just a pious hope.
• "Pious platitude": A statement expressing a virtuous or religious sentiment that is overused and lacks genuine meaning.
  • The politician's speech was full of pious platitudes about family values.

Variants and Related Words

• Piety (noun): The quality of being pious; religious devotion.
  • He was respected for his deep piety.
• Piously (adverb): In a pious manner.
  • She piously crossed herself before entering the church.
• Impiety (noun): Lack of piety or reverence.
  • The philosopher was accused of impiety.

Synonyms

• Devout: Deeply religious.
• Reverent: Feeling or showing deep respect.
• Sanctimonious (negative): Making a show of being morally superior to others.
• Holier-than-thou (negative, informal): Smugly moralistic and pious.

Antonyms

• Impious: Not showing respect or reverence, especially for a god.
• Irreverent: Showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.
• Godless: Not believing in or respecting God.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
   • pious readings