as in to educate
to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding
a family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it
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Recent Examples of edify
Stewart’s routine was both uninspired and unholy — an act that failed to edify any audience.
—
Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025
Or think how far entertainment has gotten from the art that used to comprise it?
Board games like Trivial Pursuit were a long way down the road from the more edifying entertainment of say the Renaissance.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Defeats can be at least as edifying and invigorating as successes.
—Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2019
In 2025, Machel Montano helped kick off a whirlwind year for Caribbean music and culture with NPR Tiny Desk’s first-ever soca set; Thursday night (Jan. 8), Kes may have just done the same for 2026 with a dazzling, edifying headlining performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Unity Jazz Festival.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for edify
Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025
Or think how far entertainment has gotten from the art that used to comprise it?
Board games like Trivial Pursuit were a long way down the road from the more edifying entertainment of say the Renaissance.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Defeats can be at least as edifying and invigorating as successes.
—Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2019
In 2025, Machel Montano helped kick off a whirlwind year for Caribbean music and culture with NPR Tiny Desk’s first-ever soca set; Thursday night (Jan. 8), Kes may have just done the same for 2026 with a dazzling, edifying headlining performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Unity Jazz Festival.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for edify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edify
Verb
-
Terracycle, a recycling company with a major distribution center in Aurora, will also be on-site to educate the community about waste diversion and creating a zero-carbon footprint, according to the news release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers – one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The music that we were inspired by at that time and looking to as luminaries never had a broad appeal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The hotel’s 42 guest rooms–all of which have balconies with city views, soft furnishings made from upcycled kimonos and sakiori weavings, parquet flooring inspired by tatami patterns and Nagoya tiles in the bathrooms–occupy two additional floors below the club spaces.—
Terry Ward,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Edify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edify. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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