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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of homily
The new pope, born Robert Francis Prevost in Dolton, Ill., spoke in Spanish, Italian and English during the homily.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 May 2025
In his homily to the crowd of some 200,000 gathered for his Mass, the pope set out a vision of leadership based on humility and conciliation rather than on top-down intervention.
—Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025
In his homily during his inauguration Mass on Oct. 22, 1978, Pope John Paul II noted that popes had been crowned in the past, but said the focus should be elsewhere.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 18 May 2025
In his homily, Pope Leo at his inaugural mass, called for peace in Ukraine and of course Gaza as well.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for homily
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 May 2025
In his homily to the crowd of some 200,000 gathered for his Mass, the pope set out a vision of leadership based on humility and conciliation rather than on top-down intervention.
—Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2025
In his homily during his inauguration Mass on Oct. 22, 1978, Pope John Paul II noted that popes had been crowned in the past, but said the focus should be elsewhere.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 18 May 2025
In his homily, Pope Leo at his inaugural mass, called for peace in Ukraine and of course Gaza as well.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for homily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for homily
Noun
-
People would instead gather in churches to hear sermons focused on the holiday’s importance or host intimate house parties where community mobilization and progress were key topics of discussion.—
Martie Bowser,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Preachers delivered sermons paying tribute to the fallen leader, which were then reprinted as pamphlets.—
Eliza McGraw,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
There’s a warmth to the movie that makes its cliches feel earned, not lazy.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
Wilson delivered platitudes and cliches at the podium, but ultimately so far, the offense’s play has not been anywhere close to good enough in the open practices thus far.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Starting with fawning platitudes, the relationship between the world's richest man and the world's most powerful man has come to an acrimonious end.—
Dan Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
-
Too often people send graduates out into the world with platitudes and lofty thoughts.—
Harry Kraemer,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
The state uses a three-drug protocol of etomidate, rocuronium bromide and potassium acetate.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
But behind such vague bromides are specific national qualities that social scientists can identify and measure.—
Michael J. Mazarr,
Foreign Affairs,
21 June 2022
Noun
-
Over hard hip-hop beats and snarling guitar distortion, Gordon stammered about daily banalities, reframing modern life as a psychological war zone.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2025
-
So much of modern football discourse is taken up with banality, immaturity, petty insults, utterly vapid arguments about the size of rival clubs, or fanbases, or the length of trophy droughts.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
There’s a saying that an organized lie is stronger than the disorganized truth.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
17 June 2025
-
As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.—
James Blake,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
Brown’s recommendations reflected a truism: Americans believed that low-calorie food, especially vegetarian food, was a mood killer.—
Rachel Hope Cleves / Made by History,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Bear in mind the truism that stock markets can always go down as well as up.—
Dr. Ronald Premuroso,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Nobody plots against anyone, but nobody invokes ancient proverbs, either.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
As the Chinese proverb suggests, U.S. tariffs aimed at Beijing have tested diplomacy and strategy between the two largest world economies.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share