God-fearing
Americanadjective
-
deeply respectful or fearful of God.
-
(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
"I prefer a simple, quiet, God-fearing life with my family," Roberts furthered in his speech.
From Salon • Jan. 26, 2023
This ‘King’ you’re asking about, I hear many people—those that went to school and can read newspapers— say that he was a God-fearing man who died fighting to set his people free.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
![]()
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.