humbug

¹hum·bug

noun \ˈhəm-ˌbəg\

Definition of HUMBUG

1

a : something designed to deceive and mislead b : a willfully false, deceptive, or insincere person

2

: an attitude or spirit of pretense and deception

3

: nonsense, drivel

4

British : a hard usually mint-flavored candy

— hum·bug·gery \-ˌbə-g(ə-)rē\ noun

Examples of HUMBUG

1. <tests showed that the “old” map of America was a cleverly made humbug>
2. <those UFO stories are a lot of humbug>

Origin of HUMBUG

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1751

Related to HUMBUG

Synonyms: counterfeit, forgery, hoax, fake, phony (also phoney), sham

Related Words: copycat, knockoff; copy, facsimile, replica, reproduction; dummy, mock-up; fraud, gaff, imposture, spoof, swindle; simulation, synthetic; bastard, brummagem, duffer, shoddy

Near Antonyms: original

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at imposture

Rhymes with HUMBUG

bear hug, bedbug, billbug, debug, earplug, firebug, fireplug, goldbug, june bug, lovebug, prayer rug, sea slug, smart drug, spark plug, stinkbug, throw rug, unplug, wall plug