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
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blarney
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
The blarney is still strong here (lapsing into Irish dialect is an occupational hazard of reading him), but these characters also act.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for blarney
Noun
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
The blarney is still strong here (lapsing into Irish dialect is an occupational hazard of reading him), but these characters also act.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for blarney
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blarney
Noun
-
Imitation, of course, is the sincerest form of flattery.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
-
This tradition should be viewed as a form of flattery.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If he ever gets stressed or frustrated in dealing with all this nonsense, that footage is never shown.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
-
This is not on DeRosa, but that is nonsense.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gentile and the story coaxed from Elene nearly two decades ago remain at the center of the investigation and accounts for much of Kelly’s the book.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The hope is that Pivetta’s four-seamer is too enticing for hitters to lay off, because there’s no more hoping that umpires can be coaxed into seeing things your way.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 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
-
And since his nomination, he's received widespread praise among Republicans, and a handful of Democrats, making his confirmation all-but guaranteed.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Newsom’s candor deserves praise, not condemnation.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Greek yogurt or a handful of nuts can help keep levels stable.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Macadamia trees aren’t dangerous themselves, but the nuts are toxic.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At the end of the table, Faris, an Iranian refugee who had ended up on drugs, stroked a glass of tea.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Gateway trailed 36-26 at that point, and a Marino 3-pointer right after the foul seemed to stroke some momentum.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The shift started in earnest with the adulation Ichiro Suzuki received upon his arrival in Major League Baseball in 2001.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But the potential adulation, superior high-end driving and desire for performance come at a supreme cost.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blarney.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blarney. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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