pious
- 1Very religious, or done out of religious feeling, like gifts to a church.
He was a pious man who prayed three times a day.
The pious family went to church every Sunday, even in the snow.
Similardevout, religious, godly, reverent
Oppositeimpious, irreligious, ungodly, irreverent
- 2Acting as if you are better or more moral than other people.
She gave me a pious look when I ordered dessert.
Don't act so pious when you have made mistakes too.
Similarsanctimonious, self-righteous, preachy, moralistic
- 3Describes a hope, wish or statement that is honest and kindly meant but will probably not come true or change anything.
Ending hunger in the whole world by next year is a pious hope, not a real plan.
The report ends with the pious wish that the city will find money for new parks, but nobody expects it.
Practice
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Origin
From the Latin word pius, meaning “dutiful” or “devout.”
Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- English pious comes from Latin pius. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin adjective is pius, with short i; remove the macron. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin pius means dutiful or devout. en.wiktionary.org