What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sententiously
Example
He spoke sententiously, as if he had all the answers. [sententiously: adverb]
Example
The book was written in a sententious style, with many moral lessons and aphorisms. [sententious: adjective]
preachy
Example
I don't like it when he gets preachy and tells me what to do. [preachy: adjective]
Example
The movie was criticized for being too preachy and moralistic. [preachy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Preachy is more commonly used than sententiously in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Sententiously is a more formal and less common word.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between sententiously and preachy?
Sententiously is a more formal word than preachy, and is often used in academic or literary contexts to describe a style of writing that is full of moral lessons or maxims. Preachy is a more informal word that is often used in everyday conversation to criticize someone for being overly didactic or condescending.
