# saintly

/ˈseɪntɫi/ (US) · /sˈeɪntli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saintly
Updated: 2026-10-12

## Definition

describing someone who is very good, kind, and patient. It is often used to talk about people who seem almost perfect in their behavior.

For teachers: resembling or befitting a saint in character or appearance. Often used to describe individuals who exhibit exceptional patience, virtue, or self-sacrifice.

## Examples

- She has a saintly patience with the children.
- The nurse was remembered for her saintly devotion to the patients during the long winter crisis.
- While his public image was one of saintly altruism, his private journals revealed a man deeply conflicted by the very fame his charity had produced.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'seem' or 'be'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.