as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
a combat veteran himself, he could not believe the balderdash he was hearing from whippersnappers with no war experience at all
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Recent Examples of balderdash
Kennedy has elevated threats to the livelihoods of scientists who have resisted his brand of balderdash from the implicit to the explicit.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2024
While schools do exist in rough tiers of selectivity, size, excellence, prestige and so forth, the idea of precise rankings is balderdash.
—David M. Perry, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022
With that in mind, the experts look at Cannon’s decision and see balderdash everywhere.
—Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022
Declaring himself a victim is not just hyperbole or balderdash.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2022
Sorry to say, that is unmitigated balderdash and completely misleading.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2021
The popular myth of important artists being neglected in their lifetimes is for the most part balderdash.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 19 July 2021
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2024
While schools do exist in rough tiers of selectivity, size, excellence, prestige and so forth, the idea of precise rankings is balderdash.
—David M. Perry, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022
With that in mind, the experts look at Cannon’s decision and see balderdash everywhere.
—Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022
Declaring himself a victim is not just hyperbole or balderdash.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2022
Sorry to say, that is unmitigated balderdash and completely misleading.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2021
The popular myth of important artists being neglected in their lifetimes is for the most part balderdash.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 19 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balderdash
Noun
-
Targeting this furniture-maker for selling furniture is complete nonsense, and anyone with influence should say so.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Get out of here with that nonsense.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Adebayo’s pursuit of history transformed a garbage-time snoozer into a highly competitive game within the game.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Late one night in Payatas, a shantytown near a garbage dump in Manila’s outskirts, Santiago knocked on the door of a funeral office.—
Sheila Coronel,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The devices, Tisch said at a Saturday news conference, were smaller than a football and appeared to be a jar wrapped in black tape that contained nuts, bolts, and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The devices were wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts and screws, as well as a fuse.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The study confirmed direct dumping by boats, with evidence of bags full of rubbish thrown overboard.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers found evidence of bags full of rubbish being thrown overboard, identifiable by pile-up patterns on the seabed.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Various clips are making the rounds on social media where Chiefs fans are enjoying seeing Jones’ latest silliness.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
-
This time round, though, an unfortunate silliness sometimes creeps in, where the film risks tipping over Shakespearean-size emotions into embarrassing bathos.—
Miriam Balanescu,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Any who show up are declaring their indelible stupidity and misogyny.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Feb. 2026
-
As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Piccioli sent out a mishmash of styles from all over a fashion map that seems to have been drawn five or six years ago (oversize sneakers, faux couture gestures like capes and feathers and blah sportswear).—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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Selling was easy, even if the returns for McMann and Laughton in particular were kinda blah and the Leafs were unable to execute any major roster shakeup or take advantage of their ability to retain salary.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The evidence is irrefutable — a pile of drool atop a drenched spot on your pillow.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Plus, Helen Jo promised a drool-worthy sour cream and onion dip will be paired with it.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balderdash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balderdash. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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