edifying 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of edifyingnext
1
as in explanatory

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in uplifting

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

edifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of edify
as in educating
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding a family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it

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 edifying
Adjective
That leap into truth was very edifying for me. — Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 15 June 2026 The process by which that happens, however, is unlikely to be an edifying one. — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 9 June 2026 Trading in this quarter started in the late 1800s, and to this day boasts edifying buildings done in raw stone Qatari style. — Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026 For two decades, this edifying A&E docuseries has been lifting the veil of investigative work during that critical time frame. — James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for edifying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edifying
  1. explanatory
  2. uplifting
  3. educating
  4. detailed
  5. inspiring
  6. enlightening
  7. copious
  8. moving
Adjective
  • This is in contrast to myths, for example, which are sacred creation or explanatory stories set before or outside of normal time.
    — Jeffrey Tolbert, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As the series continues, however, Kazan plays up the explanatory power of an incident from Cathy’s childhood.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of explanatory
Adjective
  • After the game, the North Crowley football players created an uplifting moment for Errecka Holloway, who is set to undergo breast cancer treatment for the second time.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Seattle coach Mike MacDonald and general manager John Schneider gave Haynes an uplifting message on his way out.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of uplifting
Verb
  • Researchers also found that lowering blood pressure in people with diabetes didn’t help cut down on heart attacks, and educating emergency responders and bystanders to improve their responses to sudden cardiac arrest didn’t keep more people alive.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The department has started with educating the public, particularly parents, with forums.
    — Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of educating
Adjective
  • The detailed report, based on decades of records, notes that the findings discussed in that meeting did not enter mainstream debates earlier because much of it was written originally in German.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The companies have not provided a detailed deployment schedule or specified how many sites will become operational in the first phase.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of detailed
Adjective
  • If the lawmakers who have power today do not deliver by the time the next election rolls around, there is no amount of campaign spending, no inspiring ad, that will keep them in office.
    — Daniel Squadron, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Chanel's iconic camellia appeared in both the fall and spring collections, inspiring showgoers throughout fashion month to pin their own floral flourishes onto jackets and coats.
    — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of inspiring
Verb
  • Some wore Hurricanes’ gear, enlightening those who wondered if anyone actually wore such attire.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But Taraborrelli believes that revisiting a moment in time when Jackson and his music became a cultural phenomenon, as well as enlightening new generations to his otherworldliness as an entertainer, should be a reason for unity.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of enlightening
Adjective
  • The Gilded Age cast, who spend all season swaddled in copious layers of gorgeous but buttoned-up costumes, cast off their bonnets and went ultramodern for this event.
    — The Editors, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Those copious field reports, sworn affidavits, and telegrams signed, alarmingly, HOOVER, would fascinate, enrage, and unmoor me.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of copious
Adjective
  • The partnership previously focused on experimental cinema, film restoration, and building the contemporary art museum’s moving-image collection.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The partnership has until now mostly focused on experimental cinema, film restoration, and building the museum’s moving-image collection.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of moving

Browse Nearby Words

edify
edifying
edit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Edifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edifying. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gauntlet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All