as in cornball
tiresomely obvious and unsophisticated
their father's sense of humor was hokey beyond belief and most people's endurance
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Recent Examples of hokey
With no internet, their only entertainment comes from booze, ping-pong, rudimentary video games, and VHS tapes of hokey old game shows.
—
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
After an awesomely hokey prologue that deprives Det.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
However, sometimes managers plan for hokey-cokey transfers or immediately reverse a decision due to regret.
—Holly Shand, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
So, what was the key to it not being hokey?
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hokey
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
After an awesomely hokey prologue that deprives Det.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
However, sometimes managers plan for hokey-cokey transfers or immediately reverse a decision due to regret.
—Holly Shand, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
So, what was the key to it not being hokey?
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hokey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hokey
Adjective
-
Generations of ski families flocked to his films every fall to get revved up for a new ski season and laugh at his cornball humor.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Davis and Head make strong impressions, masking the pedestrian, sometimes cornball dialogue.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Marettimo The most remote of the Egadi Islands, tiny Marettimo—accessible via ferry from Trapani—remains delightfully rustic thanks to its limited accessibility, near absence of cars, and lack of large hotels.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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This cliffside property tucked away on Cornwall’s north coast eschews rustic seaside themes for a more urbane design and quirky Ayurvedic spa.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Among other posts, Pearce shares mollusk insights (paired with corny jokes) every Monday under the signature #MolluskMonday.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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That’s a whole lot of people — 24 of the 30 in this group alone — and Vought really isn’t helping their case with their hilariously corny promo of Jesus Christ himself passing the torch (or rather the crown of thorns).—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Growing up in Brookville, OH, my family would call this kid corn-fed.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
The Lycra Company has corn-fed stretch.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hokey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokey. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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