honky-tonks

noun

plural of honky-tonk
as in speakeasies

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for honky-tonks
  1. saloons
  2. barrooms
  3. taverns
  4. pubs
Noun
  • High in California’s eastern Sierra, the road into Bodie State Historic Park winds past a lonely cemetery and into what was once a lawless mining town of around 10,000 people and nearly 60 saloons.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Creede, Leadville and Telluride had dozens of saloons packed in a few town blocks.
    — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of saloons
Noun
  • It will be argued endlessly in barrooms in Pittsburgh.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • By the early 1930s, widespread crime, tainted liquor and the need for tax revenue fueled public dissatisfaction, ultimately leading to Prohibition’s repeal in 1933 and the return of regulated barrooms.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Definition of barrooms
Noun
  • Pedal taverns have been a fixture in downtown Nashville in recent years, particularly in the Broadway area, attracting large groups of tourists and bachelorette parties.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The weeklong promotion highlights a wide range of cuisines, from steakhouses and seafood restaurants to taverns, bistros and international dining destinations.
    — Jane Imbody, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of taverns
Noun
  • In Cornwall, some communities gather in local pubs for a traditional Cornish ‘shout’, joining together to sing folk songs and sea shanties.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • At first there was just some casual small talk between them, then walks with their dogs, followed by dinners at pubs away from prying eyes and, finally, evenings spent cooking together.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of pubs
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.

Browse Nearby Words

honky-tonk
honky-tonks
honor
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Cite this Entry

“Honky-tonks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honky-tonks. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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