sermonizer
/'sə:mənaizə/
Definition
Noun: 1. A person who delivers sermons, especially as a profession; a preacher: Someone whose occupation or primary activity is preaching religious teachings, particularly the Christian gospel. 2. A person who gives moral or tedious advice in a lecturing manner (often used disapprovingly): Someone who admonishes or lectures others in a self-righteous, lengthy, or boring way.
Examples
- As a religious preacher:
- The famous sermonizer drew large crowds every Sunday with his powerful oratory.
- He was more than a priest; he was a gifted sermonizer who could move people to tears.
- As a moral lecturer (often disapproving):
- After my mistake, my father turned into a sermonizer, going on for an hour about responsibility.
- I don't need a sermonizer; I just need a friend who will listen.
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a neutral or formal tone when referring to a religious occupation. However, in secular contexts, it frequently has a negative connotation, implying the person is pompous, long-winded, or overly moralistic in their advice.
- "To play the sermonizer": To adopt the role of someone who lectures others.
- I don't mean to play the sermonizer, but you really should think about the consequences.
Variants and Related Words
- Sermonize (verb): To deliver or compose a sermon; to lecture someone earnestly or tediously.
- He would often sermonize about the virtues of hard work.
- Sermon (noun): A talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a religious service.
- Preacher (noun): A person who preaches, especially a minister or priest. (This is a more common and generally neutral synonym for the religious meaning).
Synonyms
- Preacher: A person who delivers sermons or religious addresses.
- Homilist: A person who writes or delivers homilies (sermons).
- Lecturer: A person who gives lectures, especially in a tedious or admonishing way.
- Moralizer: A person who comments on issues with a focus on moral judgments, often in a smug way.
Related Phrases
- To sermonize at someone: To lecture someone in a prolonged and often unwelcome manner.
- My boss loves to sermonize at us about punctuality every Monday morning.
Noun
-
someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel
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