1
as in list
a long stated list of things one after another
Nobody wants to deal with a coworker who repeats the same litany of complaints day after day.
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2
as in prayer
an address to a deity or religious figure
In Catholic tradition, the Litany of the Saints is commonly sung at Mass the night before Easter.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of litany
The invocation appears like a litany after every mass shooting — and the backlash is just as inevitable.
—
Peter Smith, Twin Cities, 30 Aug. 2025
The fact that Maggie is Black, and rich, is a secondary powder keg that will blow up later in the story, when the firings start, the litany of cancellations pile up, and recriminations ricochet through the building.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Westman, who once attended the school and whose mother worked for the parish before retiring in 2021, left behind several videos and page upon page of writings describing a litany of grievances.
—Claudia Lauer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
The two have been at cross-purposes for years, ignoring their hearts for a litany of reasons.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litany
Peter Smith, Twin Cities, 30 Aug. 2025
The fact that Maggie is Black, and rich, is a secondary powder keg that will blow up later in the story, when the firings start, the litany of cancellations pile up, and recriminations ricochet through the building.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Westman, who once attended the school and whose mother worked for the parish before retiring in 2021, left behind several videos and page upon page of writings describing a litany of grievances.
—Claudia Lauer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
The two have been at cross-purposes for years, ignoring their hearts for a litany of reasons.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litany
Noun
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The results and $22 price tag are hard to beat, hence this wrinkle reducer’s eighth appearance on this list.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This is how your Notes-app to-do list ends.—
Reuven Perlman,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called for prayers and held a moment of silence for Kirk during a meeting.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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When a Republican member of Congress asked House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) if the moment of silence for Kirk could be changed to spoken prayer, a shouting match with the chamber’s Democrats ensued.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Pop Mart kick-started its global expansion following a 676 million listing in Hong Kong in 2020.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
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The average number of active listings for August from 1985 to 2024 is 15,321.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The airline's fall from grace should worry anyone with loyalty to the brand.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Whether someone's interests bore you or a mispronunciation is getting on your nerves, approach every conversation about such subjects with grace.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The operation was launched as a result of Poland’s invocation of NATO’s Article 4 in response to the Russian drone incursions.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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All of the other rare invocations of Article 4 were by Turkey, which asked for consultations related to threats coming from Iraq and Syria.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litany. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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