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Fervent vs Pious - What's the difference?

fervent | pious |

As adjectives the difference between fervent and pious

is that fervent is exhibiting particular enthusiasm, zeal, conviction, persistence, or belief while pious is of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.

fervent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Exhibiting particular enthusiasm, zeal, conviction, persistence, or belief.
  • * 1819 , , Mathilda , ch. 3:
  • As I returned my fervent hopes were dashed by so many fears.
  • Having or showing emotional warmth, fervor, or passion.
  • * 1876 , , "Mr. Captain and the Nymph," in Little Novels ,
  • Never again would those fresh lips touch his lips with their fervent kiss!
  • Glowing, burning, very hot.
  • * 1611 , :
  • But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

    Derived terms

    * fervently

    pious

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.
  • * 2014, (Paul Salopek), Blessed. Cursed. Claimed. , National Geographic (December 2014)[http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/12/pilgrim-roads/salopek-text]
  • Its male residents dress like crows: heavy black suits, black Borsalino hats, the old grandfathers hugely whiskered and the boys in peot, the curled sidelocks of the pious .

    Usage notes

    * Sometimes used pejoratively, in the sense of "mistaken" or "false" piety, as in "pious errors", "pious frauds".

    Synonyms

    * reverent, reverential, dutiful, religious, devout, godly

    Antonyms

    * (of or pertaining to piety) impious, independent, profane

    Derived terms

    * piously * piousness