fudge

1 of 2

verb

ˈfəj 

fudged; fudging

transitive verb

1

a

: to devise as a substitute : fake

b

: falsify

fudged the figures

2

: to fail to come to grips with : dodge

fudged the issue

intransitive verb

1

: to exceed the proper bounds or limits of something

feel that the author has fudged a little on the … rules for crime fiction

—Newsweek

also : cheat

fudging on an exam

2

: to fail to perform as expected

3

: to avoid commitment : hedge

the government's tendency to fudge on delicate matters of policy

—Claire Sterling

fudge

2 of 2

noun

1

: foolish nonsense

—often used interjectionally to express annoyance, disappointment, or disbelief

2

: a soft creamy candy made typically of sugar, milk, butter, and flavoring

3

: something that is fudged

especially : a bending of rules or a compromise

Synonyms

Verb

• equivocate
• hedge
• pussyfoot
• tergiversate
• waffle
• weasel

Noun

• applesauce [slang]
• balderdash
• baloney
• boloney
• beans
• bilge
• blah
• blah-blah
• blarney
• blather
• blatherskite
• blither
• bosh
• bull [slang]
• bunk
• bunkum
• buncombe
• claptrap
• codswallop [British]
• crapola [slang]
• crock
• drivel
• drool
• fiddle
• fiddle-faddle
• fiddlesticks
• flannel [British]
• flapdoodle
• folderol
• falderal
• folly
• foolishness
• garbage
• guff
• hogwash
• hokeypokey
• hokum
• hoodoo
• hooey
• horsefeathers [slang]
• humbug
• humbuggery
• jazz
• malarkey
• malarky
• moonshine
• muck
• nerts [slang]
• nonsense
• nuts
• piffle
• poppycock
• punk
• rot
• rubbish
• senselessness
• silliness
• slush
• stupidity
• taradiddle
• tarradiddle
• tommyrot
• tosh
• trash
• trumpery
• twaddle

Examples of fudge in a Sentence

Verb

Politicians have been known to fudge the issues.

The treasurer fudged the figures.

It was later discovered that the researchers had fudged their data.

Noun

We bought three kinds of fudge.

His response to these charges has been a series of denials and fudges.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Not even Thomas Jefferson, the most rhetorically agile of the Founding Fathers, could fudge the rights question. —Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 Mar. 2025

In the interest of comity, then, and in the hopes for an impressively long list of signatories, the hosts would have fudged the question. —Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 Mar. 2025

Noun

Kris' Classic Yellow Layer Cake: Two layers of yellow cake, swirled with fudge frosting, topped with a chocolate glaze and chocolate curls Need a break? —Greta Cross, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025

Imagine the rich sweetness of caramel and the texture of a firm fudge, combined with a tangy, savory edge that hints at its dairy roots. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1674, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fudge

• fudge factor
• hot fudge
• hot fudge sauce
• hot fudge sundae

Rhymes for fudge

• budge
• drudge
• frage
• grudge
• judge
• mudge
• nudge
• rudge
• sludge
• smudge
• trudge
• adjudge

Kids Definition

fudge

1 of 2 verb

ˈfəj 

fudged; fudging

1

: to change (something) in order to trick people

fudged the figures

2

: to avoid being open or direct : hedge

politicians fudging on the issues

fudge

2 of 2 noun

1

: foolish nonsense

2

: a soft creamy candy made typically of milk, sugar, butter, and flavoring