1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
it turned out that the ballyhoo was the result of a movie being filmed on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hype
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause
the usual ballyhoo intended to fill the seats at megaplexes around the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to advertise
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
that reviewer always ballyhoos any book by one of his pet authors
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to promote
to provide publicity for
the TV networks usually spend the summer months ballyhooing their new fall shows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballyhoo
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The whole 50th ballyhoo led up to an all-star three-plus hour anniversary show that premiered Sunday (naturally), February 16.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 9 Aug. 2025
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Nuclear energy was ballyhooed back in the 1930s as a way to feed the world.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballyhoo
Noun
The chefs have clearly helped Miami diners expand their palates, serving unusual dishes that could potentially make diners uneasy, like the ballyhoo, which Martinez said should return to the menu once the season starts in a few weeks.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The whole 50th ballyhoo led up to an all-star three-plus hour anniversary show that premiered Sunday (naturally), February 16.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
And Jennifer Maas previews The Game Awards to explain how the event has grown into the Oscars for video games by blending kudos and ballyhoo.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Nuclear energy was ballyhooed back in the 1930s as a way to feed the world.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballyhoo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballyhoo
Noun
-
The incident wasn’t the first time Nixon caused a commotion on the House floor over redistricting.—
Gray Rohrer,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The employees will either be able to reach out to the culprit to quiet things down, or could transfer you to another room if the commotion doesn’t quit.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Instead, Dior ranks at the top with the appointment and hype surrounding Jonathan Anderson’s new role at the luxury maison — eBay specifically cites his fresh creative energy, invigorating and growing momentum for the brand.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
-
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a National Historic Landmark that lives up to the hype.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Developers advertised the rugged mesa—framed by the Santa Monica Mountains to the east and the ocean to the west—as an escape from the dust and noise of the growing city of Los Angeles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
Some Illinois mayors say data centers have worked miracles in their towns while others question whether the benefits overcome the downsides, and whether the benefits are as good as advertised.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In 2024, Hamilton shared posts on X promoting misinformation about FEMA spending during Hurricane Helene.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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The chef Sunny Lee promotes them to a lead role, conjuring a daily set of six (with extras available) out of a breathlessly narrow kitchen.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Increasing heat and humidity could spark showers and storms Friday morning, but a better chance for more widespread storms arrives Friday night into Saturday as a stronger disturbance moves in, according to the weather service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
-
Avoid spring pruning to let blooms fully develop and prevent unnecessary disturbance to the tree.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
Noun
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On Friday, Lipa filed a lawsuit against Samsung for using her image on some of its TV boxes, alleging that its use constitutes copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and a violation of her right of publicity.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
-
Stewart says that the cascade of negative publicity has only bolstered her support and comments on social media seem to agree to an extent.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
Verb
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He was ordained in 1877 and died in 1889, after which his intensely spiritual poems were discovered and acclaimed by a new generation.—
René Ostberg,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
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KPop Demon Hunters from Sony Pictures Imageworks was widely acclaimed and came from here.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The experience is still going to sell to a lot of people who can afford it—I’m getting the college experience, the frats, the football.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Don’t miss the Botanical Garden Shop near the entrance, which sells plants, flowers, and seeds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballyhoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballyhoo. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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