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 platitude
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
In the movie Conclave, Cardinal Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes) delivers a homily to begin the ancient process of picking a new Pope.
—
Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
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
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
Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
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
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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In the new Wake Up Dead Man, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigates the death of a monsignor seconds after his last sermon.—
Fred Topel,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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After 2018, Jin transformed Zion Church into a semi-virtual network, uploading sermons online and encouraging members around the country to gather and watch sessions together.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This is now a political war that has escalated far beyond the ethical platitudes some use to argue against Proposition 50.—
Marc Lampe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Oct. 2025
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Continue reading … BLIND LOYALTY – Karine Jean-Pierre has rocky rollout for book as reviews pan Biden defense, platitudes.—
,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Exposure to chemical warfare agents—such as nerve gas—or to pyridostigmine bromide, a drug given to soldiers as a preventive measure against chemical attacks, may have played a role.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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The novel’s power lies in its relentless banality—the mind churning while life’s machinery grinds on.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Evil is aided and abetted by the banality of institutions and their functionaries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Amish are part of the wider Anabaptist movement, which puts heavy emphasis on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, containing some of his most radical and counter-cultural sayings — to love enemies, live simply, bless persecutors, turn the other cheek and to endure sufferings joyfully.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
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But as the saying goes, the best ability is availability, and Ertz has proven to be one of the most frequently available and productive tight ends in the history of the sport.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the movie’s soft-hearted underbelly fails to support that reading, and by the time the story finally arrives at its final moments, the unsparing cynicism that supplied its initial lift has been dragged back down to Earth by the weight of bland truisms.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 Oct. 2025
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One ironclad truism about sports is that all streaks eventually come to an end.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The lyrics, some inspired by proverbs and biblical passages, convey the fervor of his first love with God, without losing his personal touch.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
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His tale has become a proverb for any outdoor fanatic who, despite all of the proper planning and preparation, is undone by forces more powerful than him or herself.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Many of these same tropes appear in movies such as The Matrix (1999), I, Robot (2004), Transcendence (2014), Ex Machina (2015), M3gan (2022), The Creator (2023), and others.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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There’s a reason why the enemies-to-lovers trope is so popular in the romance book community, and Bailey and Ashley only helped further prove it as their icy onscreen clashes slowly melted into a fiery (and definitely temperature-raising) romance.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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