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 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
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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
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More than 800 of the pastor’s sermons are available on the church’s website.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
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On a Sunday during the trial, William Jennings Bryan preached a fire-and-brimstone sermon to an enormous crowd on the courthouse lawn.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Noun
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The channel presents videos of Adams traveling to various country clubs and using Jewish cliches to poke fun at golf’s historic exclusion of Jews.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
4 July 2025
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The actor does his best to exude menace, but he’s hampered by a script filled with franchise cliches like an evil admiral (Peter Weller) and Kirk playing fast and loose with the Prime Directive.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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All platitudes aside, the Kentucky distillery really does make some fantastic whiskey, and two releases that always stand out are the annual 10 Year Old Bourbon and Rye—and the 2025 edition of the latter expression was just announced.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
21 May 2025
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Sources close to the pair say they were disappointed by the half-hearted platitudes offered by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav amid the firestorm.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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So, like many a bromide, there is a grain of truth to it.—
Tom Teicholz,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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His trite bromides are typical of showbiz cretins struggling to appear principled.—
Armond White,
National Review,
28 May 2025
Noun
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As Don, the principal, tries to handle a looming crisis, using every banality at his new-age disposal, the conversation in the chat veers correspondingly out of control.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
17 Dec. 2024
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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
Noun
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Remember the old saying: Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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As the saying goes, crisis represents both danger and opportunity.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Practice creating and communicating narratives that balance today’s truisms with tomorrow’s opportunities.—
Camille Nicita,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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Comments Lovers of Little Women must always face some truisms — Beth will die; Jo will reject Laurie and choose the professor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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It’s been codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, epigrams, parables; the skeleton of every great story.—
Jann E. Freed,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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The Giants have one of the least-talented and most expensive offensive lines in the entire NFL There's an old NFL proverb that suggests games are won and lost in the trenches.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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