saintly

adjective

saint·​ly ˈsānt-lē How to pronounce saintly (audio)
saintlier; saintliest
Synonyms of saintlynext
: relating to, resembling, or befitting a saint : holy
saintliness noun

Synonyms of saintly

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Examples of saintly in a Sentence

a saintly man who devoted his life to caring for the dying
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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.
That’s not to say Rastignac is portrayed as a saintly figure. — Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026 Nigel once again steps in as a saintly father figure with access to a to-die-for sample closet. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026 As if value just floats in thin air and evil aldermen are firing bazookas in its saintly direction. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 Plus, their father was the deacon of the local Catholic congregation – all the more reason to maintain a saintly lifestyle. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for saintly

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saintly was in 1534

Rhymes for saintly

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Browse Nearby Words

Saint Luke's summer
saintly
Saint-Malo
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Cite this Entry

“Saintly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saintly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

saintly

adjective
saint·​ly ˈsānt-lē How to pronounce saintly (audio)
saintlier; saintliest
: relating to, resembling, or proper for a saint : holy
saintliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on saintly

Nglish: Translation of saintly for Spanish Speakers

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