malarkey

noun

ma·​lar·​key mə-ˈlär-kē How to pronounce malarkey (audio)
variants or less commonly malarky
: insincere or foolish talk : bunkum
He thinks that everything politicians say is a bunch of malarkey.

Examples of malarkey in a Sentence

He thinks everything politicians say is just a bunch of malarkey. the old lady declared that everything politicians say is pure malarkey
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.
This stuff about Heat Culture is a bunch of malarkey. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025 This is a part of the whole mandate malarkey in which every recent president (with maybe the exception of George W. Bush in 2001) has claimed a big mandate, even when none existed. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 May 2025 This Karen Read expert full of malarkey Howie Carr: Crikey! Matt Stone, Boston Herald, 1 May 2025 There’s novelty but not much else with this musical about two vaudevillian sisters who hoof it to Broadway and find showtunes, out-of-nowhere story interludes that don’t fit and a ton of romantic malarkey. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malarkey

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of malarkey was in 1923

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Malarkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malarkey. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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