as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
a family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it
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Recent Examples of edify
Or think how far entertainment has gotten from the art that used to comprise it?
Board games like Trivial Pursuit were a long way down the road from the more edifying entertainment of say the Renaissance.
—
Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Park districts should be overwhelmed with opportunities for young people, whether meaningful and edifying summer jobs or recreational activities that foster community and belonging.
—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
Defeats can be at least as edifying and invigorating as successes.
—Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2019
In 2025, Machel Montano helped kick off a whirlwind year for Caribbean music and culture with NPR Tiny Desk’s first-ever soca set; Thursday night (Jan. 8), Kes may have just done the same for 2026 with a dazzling, edifying headlining performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Unity Jazz Festival.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for edify
Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Park districts should be overwhelmed with opportunities for young people, whether meaningful and edifying summer jobs or recreational activities that foster community and belonging.
—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
Defeats can be at least as edifying and invigorating as successes.
—Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2019
In 2025, Machel Montano helped kick off a whirlwind year for Caribbean music and culture with NPR Tiny Desk’s first-ever soca set; Thursday night (Jan. 8), Kes may have just done the same for 2026 with a dazzling, edifying headlining performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Unity Jazz Festival.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for edify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edify
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
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One of our guests, John Davidson MBE has Tourette Syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of the condition.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The cream contains a unique NCEF formula inspired by ingredients in cosmetic injectables.—
Cathy Nelson,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
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Some way short of the 467 made by his idol Vitor Baia, the Champions League-winning goalkeeper who inspired him to wear No 99 on his back, but hefty nonetheless.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Edify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edify. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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