FEALTY Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fealty' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fealty are allegiance , devotion , fidelity , loyalty , and piety . While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow. // fealty to the truth

Q: Where would 'allegiance' be a reasonable alternative to 'fealty'?

While the synonyms allegiance and fealty are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country. // pledging allegiance

Q: In what contexts can 'devotion' take the place of 'fealty'?

The meanings of devotion and fealty largely overlap; however, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication. // a painter's devotion to her art

Q: When could 'fidelity' be used to replace 'fealty'?

While in some cases nearly identical to fealty , fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. // marital fidelity

Q: When would 'loyalty' be a good substitute for 'fealty'?

The words loyalty and fealty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray. // valued the loyalty of his friends

Q: When might 'piety' be a better fit than 'fealty'?

The synonyms piety and fealty are sometimes interchangeable, but piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental. // filial piety

fealty

noun

ˈfē(-ə)l-tē

Definition of fealty next

as in allegiance

adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty as much as I wanted to back my friend up, my fealty to the truth was greater, and I could not lie for him

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How is the word fealty distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fealty are allegiance, devotion, fidelity, loyalty, and piety. While all these words mean "faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty," fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

Where would allegiance be a reasonable alternative to fealty?

While the synonyms allegiance and fealty are close in meaning, allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

In what contexts can devotion take the place of fealty?

The meanings of devotion and fealty largely overlap; however, devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

When could fidelity be used to replace fealty?

While in some cases nearly identical to fealty, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

When would loyalty be a good substitute for fealty?

The words loyalty and fealty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

When might piety be a better fit than fealty?

The synonyms piety and fealty are sometimes interchangeable, but piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fealty What’s worse, looking ahead, is that Trump reportedly is making fealty to his election lies a job requirement for appointees to high-level administration posts. —

Jackie Calmes, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024 Blink Twice nods at a tangle of different contemporary ailments: lifestyle fetishism, wellness hedonism, our obscene fealty to stolid tech bros and their untrammeled wealth. —

Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024 Hegseth is on his version of a charm offensive with Hill offices, and many of the Republicans up there are signaling their fealty. —

Philip Elliott, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024 The dread of impulsive and cataclysmic decisions in a second Trump term and thousands of federal appointments based on fealty and ideology rather than competence is met on the other side by fears that Vice President Harris won’t make meaningful personnel changes or any new or different decisions. —

Ryan Craig, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fealty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fealty

Noun

Her style range shows an allegiance to the simple yet ornate, where craft is key: a killer red carpet formula.

Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2025
Previous attorneys general have included both those with a close allegiance to the presidents who appointed them – personal lawyers, friends, a brother – and those who were more independent-minded.

Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025