bunkum

noun

ˈbəŋ-kəm How to pronounce bunkum (audio)
variants or buncombe
Definition of bunkumnext
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a cinematic depiction of the Middle Ages that was derided as pure bunkum by historians

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bunkum Rubbish, bunkum, romanticised bullcrap, fraud, nonsense, baloney. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025 Putting aside the junk peddling, how much of Madoff’s and Trump’s bunkum do they themselves (for Madoff, did) believe to be true? — Richard Behar, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 As generative AI is integrated into common search engines and voters converse with chatbots, people seeking basic information about elections have at times been met with misinformation, pure bunkum, or links to fringe websites. — Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024 And in the ultimate exemplification of how an endless stream of content begets pernicious bunkum, John McPhail’s Dear David is arguably the most brainless release of the year. — Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 5 Dec. 2023 Nevertheless, anti-vaccine bunkum has clearly metastasized to our furry companions. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 30 Aug. 2023 Brightly lit and filled to their Botox gills with aspirational bunkum, the shows require little by way of mental engagement. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2023 Behind the image was a fair bit of bunkum. — James Gleick, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2021 The Telegraph's article immediately drew sharp responses from other journalists, who dismissed the report as bunkum. — Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 15 Mar. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bunkum
  1. nonsense
  2. rubbish
  3. garbage
  4. nuts
  5. silliness
  6. stupidity
  7. blah
Noun
  • Until recently, that would have sounded like absolute nonsense.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • There weren’t meetings with executives about tone and mood and all this nonsense.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
  • So where does the rubbish come from?
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • Building a new garbage incinerator plant now would cost Miami-Dade County $3 billion under a private development deal that’s facing criticism by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, according to a recent memo.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • The notice of violation was issued on July 12, after the agency received more than 40 public complaints of rotten, sour, garbage-type odors in the area.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • California is significant because the state supplies nearly half of the vegetables and more than three-quarters of the fruits and nuts eaten in the United States.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
  • Cashews and walnuts also contribute, alongside brazil nuts and pine nuts.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • Minions & Monsters kept its familiar chaos intact, but its turn toward sentiment may have left behind some of the pure silliness that built its core audience at home.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Karaoke, whether at a public bar or in one of the private rooms available in most cities, is commitment-free silliness and one of the easiest ways to shake off a long week.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of silliness
Noun
  • Here are the three reasons a good employee sits on a great AI discovery, and none of them is stupidity.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The stupidity of losing his car was one thing; the cruelty of forcing her to make that choice was quite another.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of stupidity
Noun
  • What used to be a forum for original, quirky, clever remarks by the Daily News’ varied community of smartypants has turned into a gridlock of repetitious venting of old, dumb blah.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
  • Frankly, turning it off and listening to the soundbar in normal stereo sounds flat, uninteresting, muddy, and just blah after getting used to SuperWide.
    — Joe Salas July 07, New Atlas, 8 July 2026
Definition of blah

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Cite this Entry

“Bunkum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bunkum. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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