abracadabra

abracadabra

noun

Definition of ABRACADABRA

1

a spoken word or set of words believed to have magic power <originally, an abracadabra was a cryptogram of the word “abracadabra” that was repeated in diminishing form until it disappeared entirely—supposedly just like the targeted evil or misfortune>

Synonyms abracadabra, bewitchment, charm, conjuration, enchantment, glamour (also glamor), hex, incantation, invocation, whammy

Related Words cantrip [chiefly Scottish], curse, jinx; bewitchery, conjuring, magic, mojo, necromancy, sorcery, voodoo, voodooism, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry; amulet, charm, fetish (also fetich), phylactery, talisman

2

unintelligible or meaningless talk <after some abracadabra the spiritualist announced that we had made contact with “the other side”>

Synonyms abracadabra, babble, blabber, burble, double Dutch, double-talk, drivel, gabble, gibber, jabber, jabberwocky, mumbo jumbo, nonsense, prattle, slobber

Related Words blah (also blah-blah), hocus-pocus, hokeypokey, twaddle; chatter, gab, patter, prate, tattle, twitter; cackle, clack, clatter