as in sermonic
marked by or given to preaching moral values
I found the novel's moralizing tone a bit much for beach reading
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in preaching
Related Words
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 moralizing
Chris Klimek, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
This is where the sanctimony and the moralizing comes in.
—Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
But the framing of the piece skews moralizing and voyeuristic.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The host, Shaina Shealy, tells a complex, sometimes raw story, resisting easy moralizing about the lives of her subjects.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Unfortunately, the bulk of the requisite moralizing falls mainly to Palmer’s socially conscious Elena, saddled with one too many speeches about making a difference, which puts a damper on the actress’ customary energetic spark.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Set in London in 1749, the story discourages easy moralizing about guilt and justice.
—Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Most of the roughly 200 episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger have the moralizing flavor of after-school specials, albeit weirdly violent ones.
—Chris Klimek, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
Her moralizing of Vernice’s character, which doesn’t happen in reverse, was fascinating to me.
—Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2026
This is where the sanctimony and the moralizing comes in.
—Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
But the framing of the piece skews moralizing and voyeuristic.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The host, Shaina Shealy, tells a complex, sometimes raw story, resisting easy moralizing about the lives of her subjects.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Unfortunately, the bulk of the requisite moralizing falls mainly to Palmer’s socially conscious Elena, saddled with one too many speeches about making a difference, which puts a damper on the actress’ customary energetic spark.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Set in London in 1749, the story discourages easy moralizing about guilt and justice.
—Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moralizing
Noun
-
Indeed, this period marked the beginning of Copeland’s lifelong emphasis on prosperity theology, which would become central to his preaching and ministry.—
Rachel Cole,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 May 2026
-
Watch for intense preaching or over-defending beliefs.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cruel cartoon of a constantly shrewish, venal, and disloyal Mary began cementing itself in the public mind when William Herndon, Lincoln’s Springfield law partner, started lecturing about his reminiscences within months of the President’s murder.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
At Yale, where Garber began her career, Jacques Derrida was a frequent visitor, and Paul de Man might be found down the corridor solemnly lecturing on Nietzsche.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, a YouTube channel called Akhbar Enfejari (Explosive News) began posting a variety of digital content with a political and moralistic bent.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Good intentions — and handsome animation — aside, Forevergreen is ultimately too maudlin and moralistic to rank it much higher than this.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If all that is a little too cerebral, viewers can wait out the pontificating until the next performance comes along.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet Dupieux doesn’t stage any of this in a didactic or judgmental way.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
That’s also in part a function of Paglen’s practice itself, which has long been critiqued for its didactic bent.—
Louis Bury,
ARTnews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement While Pulisic is no recluse—he’ll go to an occasional nice dinner with friends—exhortations to step out more go mostly unheeded.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
7 May 2026
-
Then the speakers’ exhortations to excellence would build in emotional intensity until women began to weep and the meeting erupted in spontaneous pledges to set new personal bests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An exhausting, preachy, frankly, boring and outdated version of his former self.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Rather than being presented in a preachy way, Tourkomanis and Low hope that guests experiencing an inspiring, sustainable stay firsthand will invite natural curiosity and questions, and encourage engagement with the environment and how to protect it.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their removal has raised concerns of political interference as Kennedy seeks to wield more influence over HHS’s panels of independent experts.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
-
Marte’s three-run homer, the first walk-off of his career, was preceded by home plate umpire Bill Miller calling Susac for catcher’s interference.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moralizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moralizing. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
