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

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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

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 This blatant expression of fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Rhaenyra’s men come later that night and demand Aegon and Tyland declare their fealty. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Then there is one overriding factor in the current political climate — a GOP that pays fealty to a president with little support among residents in the state’s most populous counties. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 After falsely bending the knee to Daemon (Matt Smith), pretending to swear fealty to Rhaenyra, and handing over a decoy Daeron, Ormund decamped with his army to the unfortified market town of Tumbleton. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fealty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fealty

Noun

The longstanding allegiances between global powers have been tested over the past few years.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Those would stop for creators who shift their allegiances to other platforms.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of allegiance

Noun

My business experience has shown me that clients feel more loyalty and comfort with a company willing to work through difficult periods with them.

— Mark Berookim, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
In the Buendías’ legacy of love and betrayal, loyalty and idealism, there was domestic and political violence, but there was also ice in the middle of the jungle and a sickness that put the whole town to sleep and girls that became witches.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of loyalty

Noun

Nvidia's most recent quarterly financial filing in August outlined over $500 billion in off-balance-sheet commitments over the coming years, with a majority maturing through fiscal 2029.

— Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
The Biden administration also had a commitment to AI safety that annoyed AI companies.

— Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of commitment

Noun

Has he been hoodwinked by the performance of devotion between Holmes and Evans?

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Turturro admires Harry’s old-school pride in his craft, but the character’s devotion to his ailing wife struck a deeper chord.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of devotion

Noun

The lack of a higher-fidelity codec may share some of the blame for the cymbals' lack of sparkle.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
The company also uses a digital thread of the helicopter’s operational flight program to develop high-fidelity simulations in days rather than years, allowing training systems to keep pace with aircraft modernization.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fidelity

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fazing

fealty

fear

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“Fealty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fealty. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fealty

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