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hokey

adjective

hok·​ey ˈhō-kē How to pronounce hokey (audio)
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
hokily adverb

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
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.
With no internet, their only entertainment comes from booze, ping-pong, rudimentary video games, and VHS tapes of hokey old game shows. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025 After an awesomely hokey prologue that deprives Det. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025 However, sometimes managers plan for hokey-cokey transfers or immediately reverse a decision due to regret. Holly Shand, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 So, what was the key to it not being hokey? Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hokey

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hokey was in 1927

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hokey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hokey. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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