God-fearing
Americanadjective
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deeply respectful or fearful of God.
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(sometimes lowercase) deeply religious; pious; devout.
adjective
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.
Like many of Walterboro’s roughly 5,400 inhabitants, she described Hill as a quintessential Southern belle—churchgoing, God-fearing and ready with a smile or an offer of sweet tea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026
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
It’s heartbreaking how he could only swing like a pendulum between being out and God-fearing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2023
Why would a purportedly churchgoing, God-fearing Texas patriot pray for the violent destruction of such American landmarks?
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2023
Reverend Mabutho was a fellow Thembu, a friend of my family’s, and a generous, God-fearing man.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
