lip service
noun
: an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance expressed in words but not backed by deeds
—usually used with pay
Examples of lip service in a Sentence
She paid lip service to blue-collar workers, but she did nothing to help them.
So far all we've gotten from him is lip service.
Recent Examples on the Web
The sequel strips Grace of what made her special and merely pays lip service to the first one’s worldview, representing the antagonists as generically incompetent hedonists.
—
Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
But patience can slip into complacency, and Xi’s reluctance to offer more than lip service and trade deals to allies may prove that China isn’t a suitable alternative to America’s global leadership.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Conflicts escalate at a steady pace, so as not to scare anyone away from a comedy that pays lip service to real danger without ever considering a truly dark turn.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Is this all lip service, or will those living near the buzz of an overactive data center actually see relief?
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lip service
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
But patience can slip into complacency, and Xi’s reluctance to offer more than lip service and trade deals to allies may prove that China isn’t a suitable alternative to America’s global leadership.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Conflicts escalate at a steady pace, so as not to scare anyone away from a comedy that pays lip service to real danger without ever considering a truly dark turn.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Is this all lip service, or will those living near the buzz of an overactive data center actually see relief?
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lip service
Cite this Entry
“Lip service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lip%20service. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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