as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the foofaraw that accompanies any big wedding
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Recent Examples of foofaraw
For many Americans who don’t celebrate Christmas, sitting out the foofaraw while the whole country conducts Christmas consumption is an annual dose of alienation.
—
Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2020
No foofaraw: Of course a cleric—in Chih’s case, one who belongs to a holy order tasked with traveling the land and collecting stories—wouldn’t concern themself with gender.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 29 Sep. 2020
What was Anne Boleyn up to while this whole Charles Brandon foofaraw was happening in England?
—Anne Thériault, Longreads, 25 May 2018
Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2020
No foofaraw: Of course a cleric—in Chih’s case, one who belongs to a holy order tasked with traveling the land and collecting stories—wouldn’t concern themself with gender.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 29 Sep. 2020
What was Anne Boleyn up to while this whole Charles Brandon foofaraw was happening in England?
—Anne Thériault, Longreads, 25 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foofaraw
Noun
-
With all of the commotion made about his on-base streak being snapped, his performance on the mound was almost an afterthought.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
From its location away from the courtroom, the jury heard a commotion.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its red, orange and yellow daisy-like blooms keep coming through the hottest months with almost no fuss — a strong choice for gardeners who would rather enjoy their yard than baby it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The plants that earn their place in a hot-weather bed are the ones that keep blooming when the thermometer climbs, draw butterflies and hummingbirds without fuss and reward you with the kind of color that makes a morning cup of coffee on the porch feel like a small vacation.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
About 4% of those students — or roughly 300,000 students — are labeled with emotional disturbance.—
Laurie Stern,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Remove the foil and give the orzo another good stir, then bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the orzo is tender and creamy.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Chiefs finished in the bottom quarter of the NFL in sacks and quarterback hurries in 2025, per Pro Football Reference.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
-
No one seems in a hurry to be anywhere else.—
Andrea Domanick,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The turmoil has included the sudden resignation of then-Supt.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Twin Cities’ response to a sweeping federal immigration crackdown that threw communities and local economies into turmoil offers a glimpse of what resilience and solidarity look like in practice.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foofaraw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foofaraw. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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