1
as in sermon
a public speech usually by a member of the clergy for the purpose of giving moral guidance or uplift
last Sunday's homily was about being kind to your neighbors
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2
as in cliche
an idea or expression that has been used by many people
a TV movie filled with the usual hokey homilies about people triumphing over life's adversities
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of homily
The Mass was in Latin, but the homilies were in their own languages, delivered by pastors who shared their heritage.
—
Geraldo Cadava, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
Homily — Leo delivers his homily in Italian, possibly previewing his vision for the church.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 18 May 2025
It could be argued that prioritizing joint-ventures over human-rights homilies cedes soft power to Beijing.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
In his fiery homilies, the Monsignor seems to target one new congregation member per week, pushing for the victory of a walkout.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for homily
Geraldo Cadava, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
Homily — Leo delivers his homily in Italian, possibly previewing his vision for the church.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 18 May 2025
It could be argued that prioritizing joint-ventures over human-rights homilies cedes soft power to Beijing.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
In his fiery homilies, the Monsignor seems to target one new congregation member per week, pushing for the victory of a walkout.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for homily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for homily
Noun
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Sam Vanderwall, one of six elders of the church, told the Idaho Statesman that Masiewicz handled the regular Sunday sermons.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Sep. 2025
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Evangelical leaders like Franklin Graham and Paula White-Cain have taken to YouTube to share sermons and teachings.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mentality is the critical factor here because, as the cliche goes, the defining feature of any champion team is securing victory in the face of adversity or underperformance.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The same was true of the Dutch squad, and such situations have become something of a World Cup cliche, but in 1974 this was considered novel, and a sign that the sport had become overrun by financial interests, even at international level.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But when this team broke camp, their goal was not to speak in glass-half-full platitudes in late September.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
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That platitude — polarize — was used multiple times to describe the film’s political world, even the nitty-gritty of it.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There is an outright rejection of bromides that would give us some conclusion of reassurance.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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Blood testing showed a bromide level that was hundreds of times above normal.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This punishing process, thread by thread, inch by inch, keeps luridness from sinking into banality.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
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Written by Noah Oppenheim, Bigelow’s real-time thriller about the banalities and actualities of a fictional-in-premise-only nuclear attack on the United States is Netflix’s best horse in the race at the Oscars this year.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Everybody uses that as a saying.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
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But, as the saying goes, that's what makes a market.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Vance and Miller spoke as if this were a truism.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
20 Sep. 2025
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That truism apparently extends to Switch modders as well, at least in the case of Ryan Daly.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On the other hand, perhaps this is one of those rare and unforeseen opportunities that give rise to the proverb of no guts, no glory.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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For centuries, the proverb has reminded us that seeing is believing.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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