fudge

verb \ ˈfəj \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: fudge in a Sentence

Definition of fudge

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

See fudge defined for English-language learners

See fudge defined for kids

Examples of fudge in a Sentence

Politicians have been known to fudge the issues.
The treasurer fudged the figures.
It was later discovered that the researchers had fudged their data.

Recent Examples of fudge from the Web

Old Branson is a few blocks of quaint souvenir stores and fudge purveyors and diners.

— pam mandel, Longreads, "Exodus in the Ozarks," 5 June 2018
Given how the other numbers were fudged, this is also rather dubious.

— glenn kessler, Washington Post, "The Trump administration’s bogus spin that it obtained $2 billion for ‘school safety’," 23 May 2018
In fact, the country itself has previously admitted to fudging the numbers.

— chris ciaccia, Fox News, "North Korea lying? Satellite data suggest China, Russia, North Korea may be falsifying GDP numbers," 17 May 2018
Customers fudging their digital footprints could also cause lenders to issue loans to customers that can't actually pay them back.

— louise matsakis, WIRED, "Your Smartphone Could Decide Whether You'll Get a Loan," 8 May 2018
Common sense has determined that these play are revivals, but given the dearth of new drama on Broadway, the temptation to fudge the best play category is understandable.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "Tony Award nominations reflect an anemic year for original ideas. Here's a critic's take on the bright spots," 1 May 2018
What if those providing the data (the governments themselves), have an incentive to fudge or misportray them?

— peter vanham, The New Republic, "Why Do-Gooders Love Development Statistics," 11 May 2018
Mom’s fudge, on the other hand, could be a creamy smooth, melt-in-your-mouth delight; a grainy, dry, stuck-in-the-pan disaster; or fudge sauce for ice cream.

— anne cassidy, The Christian Science Monitor, "How Mom made fudge by feel," 18 Apr. 2018
The movie fudges with some facts to make Stubby’s adventures more cinematic.

— susan dunne, courant.com, "'Sgt. Stubby' A Charming Retelling Of New Haven Pup's Heroism," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fudge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fudge

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1674

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

fudge Synonyms

fudge

noun

Definition of fudge

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

See fudge defined for English-language learners

Examples of fudge in a Sentence

We bought three kinds of fudge.
His response to these charges has been a series of denials and fudges.

Recent Examples of fudge from the Web

Hence the paralysis—and the preoccupation with damage-limiting fudges.

— The Economist, "The monarchy is at its strongest in years, unlike the government," 19 May 2018
Served atop the deep-fried dough is vanilla soft serve, a wet topping of your choice (hot fudge, anyone?), a dry topping of your choice, whipped cream and, of course, a cherry.

— rianne coale, RedEye Chicago, "20 frozen desserts to indulge in this summer in Chicago," 8 June 2017
Use our 30 favorite pie recipes, from classic apple to modern mint-fudge, for inspiration.

— martha sorren, Woman's Day, "Celebrate National Pi Day by Eating Pie," 14 Mar. 2014
Classic walnut brownies full of texture, creamy chocolate fudge, and fluffy mini marshmallows (pictured, bottom).

— cheryl slocum, Country Living, "Rocky Road Brownies," 4 Nov. 2010
Serve with warm chocolate fudge sauce and chopped pretzels.

— nancy miller, The Courier-Journal, "Menu at Porch, Louisville's newest downtown hit, 'speaks to everyone'," 15 May 2018
So full of loopholes, credits (including for electric cars) and testing fudge was the scheme that the real outcome is now estimated at closer to 36 mpg.

— holman w. jenkins, WSJ, "The Fuel-Economy Reality Show," 3 Apr. 2018
Set to debut nationwide next week, Brand Eating reports, the candy will have a rich, fudge nougat replacing the original nougat.

— perri ormont blumberg, Southern Living, "Milky Way's Newest Flavor Has Us So Excited," 19 Apr. 2018
Even if by some political fudge the checkpoints don’t return, the anxiety over Brexit has exposed the fragility of the peace: the absence of violence in Northern Ireland has not been accompanied by widespread reconciliation or integration.

— kevin cullen, BostonGlobe.com, "Irish hopes may be stopped at the border," 8 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of fudge

1766

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

fudge Synonyms

Synonyms

balderdash, baloney (also boloney), beans, bilge, blarney, blather, bosh, bull [slang], bunk, bunkum (or buncombe), claptrap, drivel, folderol (also falderal), folly, foolishness, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hooey, humbug, humbuggery, jazz, malarkey (also malarky), moonshine, nonsense, piffle, poppycock, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, stupidity, tommyrot, trash, trumpery, twaddle;

Near Antonyms

levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness;

common sense, horse sense, sense;

discernment, judgment (or judgement), wisdom;

absurdness, craziness, madness, senselessness, witlessness;

monkey business, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery;

gas, hot air, rigmarole (also rigamarole);

double-talk, hocus-pocus;

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

FUDGE Defined for English Language Learners

fudge

verb

Definition of fudge for English Language Learners

: to fail to deal with (something) in an open and direct way
: to speak or act in a way that is meant to avoid dealing with a problem directly
: to change (something) in order to trick people