pious
What does "pious" mean?
Pious describes someone who is deeply religious and dutifully observant of their faith. The mental image is of a person kneeling in prayer or living their daily life with a constant, humble awareness of spiritual obligations. While it can be used sincerely to describe genuine devotion, it often carries a secondary, slightly negative connotation. In modern usage, "pious" can imply a self-righteous or hypocritical quality, suggesting someone who makes a show of their holiness to appear better than others.
"pious" in conversation
Discussing a neighbor
Our neighbor spends every morning at the chapel.
Our neighbor spends every morning at the chapel.
He is certainly a pious man, regardless of what people say.
He is certainly a pious man, regardless of what people say.
Used here to describe genuine, consistent religious practice.
Debating a politician
His speech was full of pious platitudes about morality.
His speech was full of pious platitudes about morality.
Exactly, it felt like a performance rather than a conviction.
Exactly, it felt like a performance rather than a conviction.
Used here to suggest hypocrisy or performative virtue.
"pious" in a sentence
She lived a quiet, pious life in the countryside.
She lived a quiet, pious life in the countryside.
The congregation was known for its pious dedication to charity work.
The congregation was known for its pious dedication to charity work.
His pious protestations of innocence did little to convince the skeptical jury.
His pious protestations of innocence did little to convince the skeptical jury.
