Loyal

adj.kind, resilientwarm

Meaning 1

Steadfast in support of a person to whom commitment is owed.

Reach for it when praising a friend, partner, colleague, or supporter who does not desert others

A loyal colleague defended the absent technician's work with specific facts.

warm
devoted
deep affection motivates sustained care
not when Devoted is more emotionally intense than ordinary friendship or collegial support.
warm
faithful
keeping a promise or relationship is central
not when Faithful can carry romantic or religious meanings you may not intend.
professional
dependable
the evidence is reliable follow-through
not when Dependable praises behavior without claiming personal allegiance.
literary
true
enduring friendship is being praised in a compact, traditional way
not when True is ambiguous outside phrases such as a true friend.

Consistently committed to a cause, institution, custom, or product.

Reach for it when describing durable allegiance beyond a personal relationship

The loyal volunteers returned to the shelter through twelve difficult winters.

professional
committed
continued effort toward a shared goal is what matters
not when Committed need not include resistance to betrayal or desertion.
professional
dedicated
time and effort are repeatedly given to the mission
not when Dedicated focuses on work, not allegiance when loyalties conflict.
formal
staunch
public defense of a cause is firm and vigorous
not when Staunch sounds combative when the commitment is quiet or personal.
formal
steadfast
support remains firm through pressure or difficulty
not when Steadfast can describe a belief without any practical service.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.