sermonizing

Sermonizing refers to the act of delivering sermons or long, didactic admonitions. It can describe the formal practice of preaching in religious settings, but it is also used more broadly to describe giving moral or ethical exhortations in secular contexts. The term emphasizes the speaker's intent to influence others' beliefs or conduct, often through prescriptive or authoritative language.

Origins and usage: The word derives from sermon, a religious discourse, plus the suffix -ize. It has appeared in English since the early modern period and typically carries a judgmental or evaluative tone when used about others, especially when the speaker is perceived as moralizing rather than engaging in dialogue.

Contexts and reception: In religious communities, sermonizing denotes the act of preaching to a congregation. In everyday speech, it may describe unsolicited advice, a lecture, or moralizing commentary. Critics argue that sermonizing can shut down conversation by implying moral superiority; defenders may see it as a way to articulate shared norms or warn others about consequences of certain actions.

Related terms include preaching, moralizing, and homily.