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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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 Rather than obey, Sassoon honorably resigned and she was followed out the door by several other career prosecutors in Manhattan and D.C. Clement, like Sassoon, was a clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and has a long history of fealty to the rule of law. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025 Most of the 18 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community report to the Defense Department and are run by nonpartisan senior military officers who do not owe their positions to demonstrated fealty to Trump. —David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2025 Popular on Variety Tech oligarchs like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook are firmly atop the guest list for another four years of Trump, having proven their fealty on the rotunda at Monday’s inauguration. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025 During the nationwide protests that erupted after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Trump fumed when military officers declined to show him sufficient public fealty. —Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fealty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fealty

Noun

All the while, her bluegrass and country allegiance is unmistakable.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 17 Mar. 2025
Still, in the midst of Nigeria’s political fragility — marked by coups, violence, and widespread distrust among citizens who protested bad governance again last summer — Rema is being strategic about his allegiances.

— Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025