[syn: moralize, moralise]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Moralize \Mor"al*ize\, v. i.
1. To make moral reflections; to regard acts and events as
involving a moral.
[1913 Webster]
2. to lecture to a person in a manner asserting moral
principles.
Syn: sermonize, preachify, moralise.
[WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Moralize \Mor"al*ize\ (m[o^]r"al*[imac]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Moralized (m[o^]r"al*[imac]zd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Moralizing (m[o^]r"al*[imac]*z[i^]ng).] [Cf. F. moraliser.]
1. To apply to a moral purpose; to explain in a moral sense;
to draw a moral from.
[1913 Webster]
This fable is moralized in a common proverb.
--L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster]
Did he not moralize this spectacle? --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To furnish with moral lessons, teachings, or examples; to
lend a moral to.
[1913 Webster]
While chastening thoughts of sweetest use, bestowed
By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
3. To render moral; to correct the morals of.
[1913 Webster]
It had a large share in moralizing the poor white
people of the country. --D. Ramsay.
[1913 Webster]
4. To give a moral quality to; to affect the moral quality
of, either for better or worse.
[1913 Webster]
Good and bad stars moralize not our actions. --Sir
T. Browne.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
moralize
v 1: interpret the moral meaning of; "moralize a story" [syn:
moralize, moralise]
2: speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements;
"This man always sermonizes" [syn: sermonize, sermonise,
preachify, moralize, moralise]
3: improve the morals of [syn: moralize, moralise]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
19 Moby Thesaurus words for "moralize":
annotate, censure, criticize, critique, discourse, explain,
exposit, expound, harangue, hold forth, lecture, moralize upon,
point a moral, pontificate, preach, preachify, read a lesson,
review, sermonize