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
Stewart’s routine was both uninspired and unholy — an act that failed to edify any audience.
—
Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025
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
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
Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025
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
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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Terracycle, a recycling company with a major distribution center in Aurora, will also be on-site to educate the community about waste diversion and creating a zero-carbon footprint, according to the news release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers – one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Every parent wants their child to succeed, but some parents, like Esther Wojcicki, are especially adept at inspiring greatness in their child.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Fans of the Bulls will undoubtedly recognize a climactic moment in Running Point season two, but another subplot involving Waves’ captain, Marcus Winfield, and rising star, Dyson Gibbs, was surprisingly not inspired by one of the few blemishes of the Bulls’ 1990s dynasty.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Edify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edify. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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