SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
sermon
noun
A public religious address; more broadly, a speech offering moral instruction.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Religious address
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topSermon commonly involves religious teaching. Homily often comments on scripture, and exhortation urges a particular course of action.
Moralizing speech
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThe figurative sense can criticize an unwanted moral lesson. Harangue adds length and force, while admonition may be brief.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See sermon in use
The chapter ends with a sermon on generosity delivered to a divided congregation.
In a neighborhood novel, a speaker's sermon urges residents to treat shared courtyards with care and presents that duty as a matter of mutual responsibility.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
- SERMON Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
- Princeton WordNet 3.0: wn30-n-07243837, wn30-n-06712325
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license