1
as in flattery
excessive praise
laid the blarney on thick in order to get special treatment from the waitress
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
his excuse was his usual blarney about how he'd love to help out but he was just so darned busy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to coax
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
attendants at the nursing home sometimes have to blarney the patients to take their medicine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to honey
to praise too much
an eager, young assistant who blarneys the boss shamelessly
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blarney
Clay Risen, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2022
After years of listening to Boris Johnson’s blarney, many Britons have had their fill, at least for now, of hot air cleverly channelled.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022
This might come as a surprise given the outsized and blarney-filled headlines on social media to the contrary.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 June 2022
Menu: soda bread with Irish whiskey butter and fried cabbage and rashers; pork bangers and Irish colcannon with red onion gravy and blarney stones and Irish bananas.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 9 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for blarney
Noun
To many would-be publishers, the title sounded like a bunch of blarney — even in the early 1990s, many people still considered Ireland a conservative backwater and a cultural appendage to Britain.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2022
After years of listening to Boris Johnson’s blarney, many Britons have had their fill, at least for now, of hot air cleverly channelled.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022
This might come as a surprise given the outsized and blarney-filled headlines on social media to the contrary.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 June 2022
Menu: soda bread with Irish whiskey butter and fried cabbage and rashers; pork bangers and Irish colcannon with red onion gravy and blarney stones and Irish bananas.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 9 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for blarney
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blarney
Noun
-
Indulge your senses with thick-as-butter body lotion, the Vitamin C body oil Hailey Bieber uses, plus so much more from the brand created by the famous YouTuber with over two million subscribers.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
7 July 2025
-
Amazon reviewers report that the 360-degree spinner wheels from this three-piece Hanke set are silent and glide like butter, ensuring a smooth and quiet journey throughout busy airports.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
7 July 2025
Noun
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The only moments where Philly’s Shadstackzz isn’t rapping at full force are when the beats switch from one to the next or one of his boys—named nonsense like firbucketss and Broadday—tag in.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Dec. 2025
-
When Kim finally got the mic back and tried to continue, Psalm somehow found another mic and began saying nonsense into it.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Peters crouched down and used a little body language to try to coax the ball fair.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
The Exorcism Theory Something evil has attached itself to our victim and must be coaxed out.—
Ravi Gupta,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2024
Noun
-
That, plus a golden iPhone (or key to the city) and a bit of flattery, should do the trick.—
Ravi Gupta,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
-
Hadley learned that Vintilla had been working as a restaurant hostess in London when Andrew connected with her on Instagram and began bombarding her with flattery.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Tawny Port spends years in barrel, picking up notes of caramel, nuts, and toffee along the way.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Examples include fatty fish, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, and spices.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Smart praised Florida's roster during an interview with ESPN's SEC Nation after Saturday night's championship victory over Alabama.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Lopez, who created Roy's 2014 Met Gala gown, said that Solange was offended after Jay-Z praised the dress.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The staff had piled a toy train high with Modjeskas and stuffed a sleigh with chocolate suckers and egg nog taffy.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Come visit, and you’ll be met with the alluring smell of warm caramel, the hum of a century-old taffy machine, and display cases brimming with every sweet imaginable.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blarney.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blarney. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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