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
Last week, the pontiff skipped his homily during Palm Sunday Mass.
—
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2024
Archbishop of Baltimore William Lori gave a homily before Walker introduced the six minutes of silence.
—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2024
An announcer then said on Vatican Radio that Francis decided not to read the homily.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2024
An announcer on Vatican Radio then said the pope had decided to not read the homily.
—Philip Pullella, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for homily 
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2024
Archbishop of Baltimore William Lori gave a homily before Walker introduced the six minutes of silence.
—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2024
An announcer then said on Vatican Radio that Francis decided not to read the homily.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2024
An announcer on Vatican Radio then said the pope had decided to not read the homily.
—Philip Pullella, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for homily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for homily
Noun
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At a Sunday service just two days after the hurricane, Burke heard a sermon about community service.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN,
26 Nov. 2024
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Black pastors often gave sermons that could be heard loud and clear through the many small Black churches.—
Rayna Reid Rayford,
Essence,
25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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For Butler and the Heat the relationship has devolved to the seeming point of cliche.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2025
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On campus, Landow’s impact has gone beyond the bigger, stronger, faster cliches attached to most strength coaches.—
Pete Sampson,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Pat Riley or the Heat can soften their stance with platitudes going forward, but the only response that would resonate would be an extension, or agreement to work out a new deal in the offseason.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2025
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The best leadership books for women tackle the complexities of professional advancement head-on, moving past platitudes to deliver concrete strategies for specific challenges.—
Cynthia Pong, JD,
Forbes,
28 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The two-dimensional characters communicate in bromides; Lena’s fellow privates, who suffer from the laziest defining characteristics (coarse Southern gal, proper preacher’s daughter, New Yorker), are the worst offenders.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
6 Dec. 2024
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In place of triumph-of-the-human-spirit bromides, though, what the book delivers is its own kind of cinema, harsh and true.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
8 July 2024
Noun
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The movie highlights the ‘banality of evil,’ a phrase coined by Hannah Arendt, and puts forward the idea that the commandant was just a person, not a monster.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN,
17 Jan. 2025
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Barton appears to enjoy juxtaposing the banality of Helen’s life as a wife and mother—flawlessly hosting her husband’s holiday work party, sticking jewels on a crown for a Nativity costume—with the extravagant action of her secret life.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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By Jamie Ducharme January 24, 2025 12:22 PM EST Everything is negotiable, as the saying goes—and that includes medical bills.—
Jamie Ducharme,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
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The saying is that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.—
Vic Tafur,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This has been a truism around the Bulls since the organization drafted him in 2020.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2025
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That said, there are guideposts and truisms that will give many savers a good shot at getting it right, experts said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But remember, where there’s fire, there’s smoke, which may be a reversal of the standard proverb but is highly relevant here.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
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To paraphrase an old proverb, the best time to connect the fights for trans and reproductive rights was decades ago.—
Colleen Hamilton,
Them,
4 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Homily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homily. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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