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Synonyms

God-fearing

American  
[god-feer-ing] / ˈgɒdˌfɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. deeply respectful or fearful of God.

  2. (sometimes lowercase) deeply religious; pious; devout.

God-fearing British  

adjective

  1. pious; devout

    a God-fearing people
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of God-fearing

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To hear it from Reagan, Afghanistan was one of the most beautiful, freedom-loving and God-fearing places in the world.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2025

The pastor there, Caroline Atieno, remembers a "wonderful... God-fearing person".

From BBC • Sep. 13, 2024

The story follows Dawn O’Keefe, a God-fearing good girl — surrounded by shame-lobbing, not-so-good men — whose body has a sharp sense of justice.

From New York Times • Mar. 27, 2024

In some ways, Deion was no different, no less God-fearing or evangelical than Kirby Smart or Dabo Swinney.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2023

“My father was a God-fearing colored man. He didn’t turn into a crow like some demon. No sir!”

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.