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hokum

noun

ˈhō-kəm How to pronounce hokum (audio)
Definition of hokumnext
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a movie about the disaster that's pure Hollywood hokum

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hokum What finally holds all the hokum together is Pitt. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2025 Is this common household spice really an effective tool in the garden, or is this just influencer hokum? — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025 From the foothills of the Berkshires arises a venerable strain of American madness, the poetry of hokum—the old weird America of medicine shows and travelling circuses and carnivals. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025 In past case studies of argyria, a common source is hokum therapies promoted by naturopaths and their ilk. — Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hokum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hokum
  1. nonsense
  2. garbage
  3. nuts
  4. silliness
  5. rubbish
  6. blah
  7. stupidity
Noun
  • The other two, the no-nonsense Clara (Ayanna Nicole Thomas) and the all-nonsense Farley (Gabriel Marcus Omlor), have a subplot of their own.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Ziegler says his team may find that a model produces nonsense under an unusual formatting request or that an external safety checker needs to intervene more frequently.
    — Barbara Booth, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • Remove food that attracts wild animals by keeping garbage in closed, secure containers.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The only people who spoke up for this garbage were the people who put it together.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • My pungent plateful grew in strength from tomme to Shropshire blue, accompanied by crusty bread, fruit and nuts.
    — Adrienne Wyper, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Poblano peppers are charred and peeled, then stuffed with picadillo, a mix of ground beef, spices, nuts and seasonal fruits such as pears and apples.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • Fans enjoy her silliness and willingness to discuss important issues.
    — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Some of the mayhem devolves into silliness, including a foot chase through Red Square (doubled by Budapest’s Heroes’ Square abetted with digital effects) and a vehicular chase in which Nick and Troy drive a nuclear missile launcher.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of silliness
Noun
  • This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • There's been some good, but, generally, it's just been sort of blah.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That’s where all the problems come from—the shrinkage, the color, blah, blah, blah.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of blah
Noun
  • The latest contestant in this recurring game of fiscal stupidity is Miami.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That’s only made worse by the fact that it’s treated as some kind of grand betrayal rather than an impulsive act of youthful stupidity that will make for a good story one day.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of stupidity

Browse Nearby Words

hokeypokey
hokum
hold
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Cite this Entry

“Hokum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokum. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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