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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Recent Examples of hokum
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
The Tribune eventually admitted in print that its story was intentional hokum.
—Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hokum
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
The Tribune eventually admitted in print that its story was intentional hokum.
—Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hokum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hokum
Noun
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The other side in a debate with common sense is nonsense.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
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That kind of no-nonsense mentality cuts right through all the nonsense and puts the focus on the work.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t use mulch made from black walnut wood, leaves, or nuts near your orchard.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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So in 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases formally recommended parents introduce children under the age of 3 to allergens like nuts.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After an effort to create a Falls of the Ohio national park fell short in 1967, Kentucky and Indiana officials struggled to stop the falls from becoming a garbage dump.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Oct. 2025
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Generally, what happens to the White House’s trash is secret—at least as of 2018, which was apparently the last time the federal government released any information on where Oval Office garbage goes.—
Nancy Walecki,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Some hijinks and silliness happen.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
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As Theodore Logan, Keanu Reeves found the perfect vessel for his serene silliness, playing well off Alex Winter’s equally clueless Bill.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One hurdle for these editors is that far-right hate is more conducive to digital slop, both because algorithms prize outlandish ragebait and because the tribalistic ideas themselves are low IQ rubbish.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
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This was due to the incredible amount of rubbish that had been left to pile up inside.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If your manicure has been feeling a little blah recently, one of the best ways to elevate your look is with the best accent nail ideas.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
14 Oct. 2025
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Quietly, 2023 lottery pick Taylor Hendricks is also here somewhere after a blah rookie year and a second season lost to injury.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Snack Homiez’ back-and-forth, soothing in its stupidity, reminded me of this Kate McKinnon-Aidy Bryant two-hander from 2021.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
19 Oct. 2025
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In Del Toro’s film, the creature isn’t rejected for his loathsome appearance but for his apparent stupidity.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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At one point, Pancho is filmed getting a bath in the sink, likely to wash off the drool from his oversized pals.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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The trailer opens with Elsbeth — clad in a hot-pink plaid suit that would make Cher from Clueless drool — asleep on a couch behind a pile of pastel-pink luggage in the office of Scotty Bristol (Stephen Colbert), the host of the fictional late-night show Way Late with Scotty Bristol.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hokum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokum. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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