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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Recent Examples of homily
Pope Leo ended his first homily by talking about his new role as the leader of a flock of over 1 billion Catholics, and his most profound prayer.
—
Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Pope Leo began his first homily in English: 📹Watch ; 🔎Read his homily
Cheers at the end of Mass: Children in the Sistine Chapel choir applauded him at the end of Mass.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 9 May 2025
But Parolin’s sceptics point to his lack of experience working at the church’s grassroots and his flat delivery of a homily at a Mass for around 200,000 young people in St Peter’s Square, the day after Francis’ funeral.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 2 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
Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Pope Leo began his first homily in English: 📹Watch ; 🔎Read his homily
Cheers at the end of Mass: Children in the Sistine Chapel choir applauded him at the end of Mass.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 9 May 2025
But Parolin’s sceptics point to his lack of experience working at the church’s grassroots and his flat delivery of a homily at a Mass for around 200,000 young people in St Peter’s Square, the day after Francis’ funeral.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 2 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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Wicks’ sermons tend toward the extreme fire-and-brimstone, vengeance-is-mine variety.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
7 Sep. 2025
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As a result, Jud gets sent to a small-town church, Our Lady of Perpetual Grace, which the resident priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), has run into the ground with his fiery sermons.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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As cliche as seems, Eid wants the spirit of his father’s restaurant to carry over.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When asked to divulge what gave him confidence in Volpe long term, Cashman did not point to any specifics but rather platitudes that have not mounted to much success three years into the shortstop’s career.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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These kumbaya platitudes feel out of place when battered and bloody boys are dropping like flies, but that works to the film’s advantage, laying the groundwork for the final rug-pull.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These letters are all like parodies of wokeness and DEI bromides.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
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However, swapping out classic sodium chloride for sodium bromide is a solid way to give yourself acne, involuntary muscle spasms, and paranoid psychosis.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Bigelow’s work is procedural to its core, and that this film is a speculative what-if is made all the more horrifying because of its banality.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
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If Berríos and Eichmann had different personalities, for me ‘Black Cocaine’ is a film about the banality of evil versus total evil.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Hats, t-shirts, jerseys, wristbands, belts, and much more featuring John Cena's logos and sayings are now available to fans.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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There is a truism that a good place to live is a good place to visit—and that relationship often creates a virtuous cycle of development.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Instead, Jeffrey Gahler has turned budget hearings into a sideshow by attacking McCord for scribbling a French version of a familiar proverb during an April meeting.—
Aegis reader commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Aug. 2025
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In West African traditions, the drum serves as both a musical instrument and a talking messenger, transmitting proverbs, praises, and official announcements in a language that reinforces the chief’s authority and the community’s history.—
Felicia Appenteng,
semafor.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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