What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pontify
Example
He loves to pontify about politics, even though he has no idea what he's talking about. [pontify: verb]
Example
She always pontificates about the proper way to raise children, even though she has none of her own. [pontificates: verb]
preach
Example
The pastor preached about forgiveness and compassion during his Sunday sermon. [preached: verb]
Example
She always preaches about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. [preaches: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Preach is more commonly used than pontify in everyday language. Preach is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pontify is less common and often used in a negative sense.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pontify and preach?
Both pontify and preach are informal words, but pontify is often associated with a negative or sarcastic tone, while preach can be used in both formal and informal contexts.