faithful

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for faithful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

devoted true constant close

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

loyal fold congregation

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

steadfast dependable

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty.

“Years later, she was still a faithful supporter of the local football club.”

loyal devoted steadfast true dependable constant close

Opposites

unfaithful

2. noun

The devoted members or followers of a religion or cause (usually "the faithful").

“The preacher thanked the faithful for coming out in such awful weather.”

fold congregation

How to use faithful

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

faithful to stay faithful faithful reproduction the faithful

Etymology

From Middle English feithful, built from faith plus the suffix -ful ("full of").

Full origin of faithful →

Frequently asked questions

What does “faithful” mean?

The word “faithful” means loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty. In plain terms, staying loyal and true — to a person, a relationship, or an original version of something.

How do you pronounce “faithful”?

“Faithful” is pronounced FAYTH-fl (/ˈfeɪθ.fl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “faithful” in a sentence?

Here is “faithful” used in a sentence: “He remained a faithful friend even during her difficult divorce.”

What part of speech is “faithful”?

Depending on how it is used, “faithful” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “faithful” come from?

The word “faithful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English feithful, built from faith plus the suffix -ful ("full of").

Is “faithful” a common word?

“Faithful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “faithful” have?

“Faithful” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty.

What is the difference between faithful and loyal?

Faithful means being loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty, and it often carries a sense of steadfast commitment over time. Loyal is very close in meaning, but faithful more strongly suggests keeping promises and, in relationships, not straying, while loyal emphasises firm support and allegiance.

What is the difference between faithful and trustworthy?

Faithful means loyal and devoted, staying committed to a person, cause, or duty. Trustworthy means being reliable and honest so that others can depend on you; a person can be trustworthy in general without the specific devotion that faithful implies.

People also searched

true close constant devoted loyal fold congregation steadfast dependable unfaithful

Nearby words

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