fudge

verb

fudged; fudging
Synonyms of fudgenext

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

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shoppers can find items ranging from caramel apples to fudge at most stores, according to the website. Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026 Models can fudge their way through routine tasks (and deliver real productivity gains) without ever fully solving fundamental challenges such as eliminating hallucinations, ensuring reliable decision-making or securing worker buy-in. Chris Turlica, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 Districts, especially the large ones, would fudge on how the money was being used and if caught, would be given passes by state officials. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 May 2026 Romig, the former agency official, told me that there are various ways to fudge the numbers. E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fudge

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fudge was in 1836

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fudge. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

fudge

1 of 2 verb
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

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