hokey

adjective

hok·​ey ˈhō-kē 

hokier; hokiest

1

: corny entry 1 sense 1

the usual hokey melodrama

2

: obviously contrived : phony

The plots are tricky but not hokey.

—Cleveland Amory

hokeyness noun

or hokiness

ˈhō-kē-nəs 

hokily

ˈhō-kə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of hokey

• cornball
• rustic
• corny
• corn-fed

Examples of hokey in a Sentence

She gave us some hokey excuse for being late.

their father's sense of humor was hokey beyond belief and most people's endurance

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s been called hokey, a pastime for Appalachian hillbillies and much worse. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026

Once tourist fodder, the musical has remained a byword for hokey commercialism. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

He's chosen a persona that is hokey, cringe and borderline offensive or downright offensive. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2026

Like the hokey gag of Lineker pretending to introduce the show before Woods interrupted. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hokey

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• smoky
• karaoke