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

Its central plot remains conventional, and its demonology — including a hokey expansion involving the mysterious Cult of the Wise Men — routinely functions more as a set piece than as a serious mystery. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026

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

The session included newer compositions from Rollins, Davis, and Theolonious Monk alongside the theoretically hokey showtunes that Davis would help turn into standards. — Natalie Weiner, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026

Sixteen-year-old Mary is surrounded by the Silver Star Rangers — an all-male quintet decked out in hokey western shirts, neckerchiefs and cowboy hats. — John Ficarra, Washington Post, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hokey

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