homily

noun

ˈhä-mə-lē How to pronounce homily (audio)
Definition of homilynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 homily Earlier in the day, in his Easter homily, Pope Leo focused on retaining hope amid the violence of war, climate change and other suffering. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026 The following clergy are also set to participate in Cheney's funeral including Hollerith, who will offer the homily. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025 No lectures, no homilies, no empty words. — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 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
  1. sermon
  2. platitude
  3. bromide
  4. banality
  5. saying
  6. truism
  7. proverb
  8. trope
Noun
  • The board brought in Pam Muise, a pastor who knew Miller as a child, to help preach some sermons.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • His Atlanta sermon comes as political campaigns and outside organizations ramp up voter outreach ahead of elections this fall.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of sermon
Noun
  • In between some of the manager’s more clip-worthy quotes, there were more of his usual — and not incorrect — platitudes.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • And no, this isn’t the typical platitude a coach might share retroactively, after a former player becomes an all-time great.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of platitude
Noun
  • The team used a mixture of zinc chloride and lithium bromide salts to dissolve the cellulose.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The fire contained compounds from more than two dozen chemical families, including dangerous amounts of bromide, a naturally occurring element that can irritate the skin and mucus membranes.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of bromide
Noun
  • Then morning would come, with all the banalities that drew them apart.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, when a person live-streams long enough, banality can eventually give way to horror.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of banality
Noun
  • But there is a saying in the military that leadership sets the tone, and when the most senior leaders are flippant at best, and cruel at worst, many will understand that to be the permissible standard.
    — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There’s an old saying in football that the best gig is that of the assistant coach.
    — JOE DAVIDSON, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of saying
Noun
  • Wars cannot be fought on ideology alone – a truism that perhaps led to the firebrand former defense minister’s departure, after months of clashes and refusing to deal with the army top brass, as Zelensky describes it.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But most politicians are pretty easily replaced, a truism that Moreno reinforced by going public.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of truism
Noun
  • That proverb, attributed to everyone from Yogi Berra to a Danish Nobel laureate, springs to mind whenever someone asks me about an upcoming NFL season.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • An ancient proverb notes that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of proverb
Noun
  • By using two mediums to highlight the warm absurdity of the fairy-tale tropes, Enchanted cheekily celebrates what only animation can do.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Briefly combining the friend groups makes for a rollicking start, and Season 2 keeps spirits high by leaning on a stockpile of sitcom tropes.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of trope

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homilies
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Cite this Entry

“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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