sermonizing
Delivering pious lectures
Sermonizing is lecturing others in a self-righteous or moralizing way, as if delivering a sermon.
The word carries a negative connotation—suggesting unwelcome preachiness rather than genuine guidance: Nobody asked for your sermonizing.
He kept sermonizing about the evils of social media while scrolling through his phone.
Excessively moralizing in tone
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- pontificatingSpeaking pompously at length
judgmental · priggish · censorious · condescending · patronizing · moralistic · didactic · pharisaical
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- declamationForceful, theatrical speaking
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
monologue · tirade · diatribe · harangue · speechifying · grandiloquence · bombast · verbosity
Church speaking platform
- homilyReligious discourse on scripture
- preachingDelivering moral discourse
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
minister · pastor · scripture · gospel · evangelize · proselytize · liturgy · ecclesiastical
Strongly encouraging action
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
- entreatingUrgently asking for favor
- admonishingExpressing disapproval firmly
warning · cautioning · compelling · impassioned · fervent · zealous · earnest · insistent
preachy
Excessively moralizing in tone
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
pontificating · judgmental · priggish · censorious · condescending · patronizing · moralistic · didactic · pharisaical · puritanical
eloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- declamationForceful, theatrical speaking
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
discourse · monologue · tirade · diatribe · harangue · speechifying · grandiloquence · bombast · verbosity · long-winded
pulpit
Church speaking platform
- homilyReligious discourse on scripture
- preachingDelivering moral discourse
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
clergy · minister · pastor · scripture · gospel · evangelize · proselytize · liturgy · ecclesiastical · pastoral
urging
Strongly encouraging action
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
- entreatingUrgently asking for favor
admonishing · warning · cautioning · compelling · impassioned · fervent · zealous · earnest · insistent · pressing
- moral teachingsmoral lesson, moral story, moral tale, moral fable, moral teaching
- pretentiousnesspretentious, pretentiousness, pretension, pompous, pomposity
- speechmakingorating, declaiming, speechifying, preaching, lecturing
- preachinghomiletics, altar call, scripture reading, closing prayer, invitation
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
- tiradestirades, tirade, rants, rant, harangues
sermonizingcasual conversation
Informal spoken exchange
chatting · conversing · small talk · shooting the breeze · listening
sermonizingaccepting
Willing to receive
tolerating · live and let live · empathizing · listening · open-minded
sermon, sermons, exhortation, sermonize, sermonizes, sermonized, sermonising, sermonise, sermonised