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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hokum
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
Ultimately, what saves the movie is the cast and crew’s expert devotion to its polished, well-meaning hokum.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 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
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
Ultimately, what saves the movie is the cast and crew’s expert devotion to its polished, well-meaning hokum.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 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
Noun
-
The only way real barriers to non-factory service could be required to work on a ladder-frame gas-engine truck would be if the automaker intentionally loaded it with proprietary nonsense.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
11 June 2026
-
Yet more arrant nonsense, coming from someone who has repeatedly been cited for spreading vaccine misinformation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Veterans’ centers, summer camps, boat launches and garbage pickup could all be impacted.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
-
Any clothes or other materials used to dispose of the broken toy should be put in a separate garbage bag and thrown away as well.—
Parents,
Parents,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
The key is building meals around high-fiber foods like beans, lentils, whole grains, berries, seeds, vegetables and nuts.—
Ryan Brennan
June 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
-
The company's specialty nuts -- cashews, confections and snack mixes -- follow the same quality standards as its world famous Virginia Peanuts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
On one hand, this is silliness; Swift barely even lived here.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
-
Yet, away from the court, these two personify the best qualities of friendship and the silliness that comes with it.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
So where does the rubbish come from?—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
-
With no petrol to run dustbin trucks, rubbish is being burnt in the streets.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Best Fashion Deals If your summer wardrobe is feeling a little blah, Amazon’s Outlet fashion deals are the perfect place for a refresh.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2026
-
There’s also the logical blah blah that a sequel is good for the greater franchise ecosystem, read viewers will rewatch Star Wars movies on Disney+, etc.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Don’t just try to be brilliant; focus on avoiding stupidity.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Nobody doggedly builds a stand-up career that takes them from clubs to theaters to selling out arena tours from a foundation of genuine stupidity.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hokum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokum. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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