pietistic
Overly fervent religiously
Pietistic describes an emphasis on personal religious devotion and emotional experience over formal doctrine or ritual.
The term comes from Pietism, a 17th-century Lutheran movement stressing individual piety and Bible study.
It can be neutral or faintly dismissive, suggesting excessive or performative religiosity: His pietistic pronouncements rang hollow given his behavior.
Smugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
hypocritical · pharisaical · priggish · censorious · moralizing · condescending · superior · pompous
Morally good, justified
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- scrupulousThorough and principled
conscientious · strait-laced · proper · decent · moral · ethical · puritanical · rectitude
Deeply religious, sincere
- prayerfulGiven to worship
- reverentFeeling profound respect
- godlyDeeply religious in character
- faithfulConsistently loyal and true
devotional · observant · churchgoing · worship · holiness · sanctity · fervent · earnest
Restraining one's own desires
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- frugalityEconomical resource management
- simplicityLack of complexity
temperance · renunciation · fasting · mortification · discipline · restraint · sobriety · plainness
Intensely and sincerely felt
- evangelicalZealously advocating beliefs
- missionaryReligious outreach worker
- proselytizingSeeking converts zealously
- crusadingAggressively pursuing a cause
fundamentalist · dogmatic · rigid · strict · orthodox · sectarian · narrow · uncompromising
self-righteous
Smugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
judgmental · hypocritical · pharisaical · priggish · censorious · moralizing · condescending · superior · pompous · affected
righteous
Morally good, justified
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
scrupulous · conscientious · strait-laced · proper · decent · moral · ethical · puritanical · rectitude · probity
devout
Deeply religious, sincere
faithful · devotional · observant · churchgoing · worship · holiness · sanctity · fervent · earnest · sincere
self-denial
Restraining one's own desires
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- frugalityEconomical resource management
simplicity · temperance · renunciation · fasting · mortification · discipline · restraint · sobriety · plainness · spartan
fervent
Intensely and sincerely felt
- evangelicalZealously advocating beliefs
- missionaryReligious outreach worker
- proselytizingSeeking converts zealously
crusading · fundamentalist · dogmatic · rigid · strict · orthodox · sectarian · narrow · uncompromising · intense
pietisticirreligious
Not devout or pious
impious · irreverent · blasphemous · ungodly · godless
pietistichypocritical
Feigning beliefs one lacks
pharisaical · insincere · performative · hollow · sanctimonious