as in pious
showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue
a saintly man who devoted his life to caring for the dying
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Recent Examples of saintly
Luckily for them, Jonathan decided to take the longest water break in the history of The Amazing Race, much to the detriment of his very patient and saintly wife.
—
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
The contrast between the saintly behavior expected of these evangelists and their less-than-righteous day-to-day lives is a reliable, ever-replenishing fountain of comedy, as everlasting as the Lord’s love.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
In his final collection in 2010, Alexander McQueen also titled a gown after the Botticelli painting — although the grey silk organza dress was digitally printed with two saintly figures, not Botticelli’s woman.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
The relics of the monastery’s saintly founder were on view for public veneration.
—Therese Cory, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saintly
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 2 Apr. 2025
The contrast between the saintly behavior expected of these evangelists and their less-than-righteous day-to-day lives is a reliable, ever-replenishing fountain of comedy, as everlasting as the Lord’s love.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
In his final collection in 2010, Alexander McQueen also titled a gown after the Botticelli painting — although the grey silk organza dress was digitally printed with two saintly figures, not Botticelli’s woman.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
The relics of the monastery’s saintly founder were on view for public veneration.
—Therese Cory, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saintly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saintly
Adjective
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Supported, at least initially, by his pious wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and his two teenage daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), Iman and his clan seem set for a comfy bourgeois life.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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According to Singh, Bishnoi has cultivated the public persona of a pious man dedicated to God and justice.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The actor, 76, has been a devout Buddhist for over 40 years.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Many Latin acts, particularly from Puerto Rico, are devout Christians but don’t share their beliefs in their music.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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During their first reign from 1996-2001, the Taliban had outlawed all music besides non-instrumental religious chanting, enforcing the ban with brutal tactics that included a suicide bombing at an ANIM student concert.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
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Following religious conviction, pride in one's homeland and confidence in its future is the sentiment that very well might induce the most people to get married and have children.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In one indelible scene, her lactating breasts get so backed up that her husband is forced to milk her—the kind of gross-out body humor that is usually applied to dicks and butts, not the sainted maternal form.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
10 Oct. 2025
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The jobs that Biden wanted and did create are the same ones that Trump hates: wind, solar, electric vehicles, the usual gang of sainted Democratic projects.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The King and Queen earlier met the new pontiff for the first time since his May election on Thursday morning, following their arrival in Rome the previous evening to celebrate the holy Jubilee year, which takes place every quarter of a century.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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The not-quite-musical (the Shakers were known for their frenzied singing) and not-quite-biopic was recently acquired by Searchlight, with a suitably holy Christmas Day release planned.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There is a fine line between reverent homage and cheap pastiche; Shelby Oaks largely exists on the latter side.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
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Del Toro loves playing around in genres, and his remake of the 1947 film (itself based on the William Lindsay Gresham novel) represents what’s best (and also what’s limiting) about his reverent enthusiasm.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Saintly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saintly. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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