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hoodoo

noun

Definition of hoodoonext
1
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense some economists have characterized the proposal as economic hoodoo that should be hooted down

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curse
something that brings bad luck some hoodoo must be at work—I lost both sets of house keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoodoo
  1. nonsense
  2. curse
  3. nuts
  4. spell
  5. garbage
  6. jinx
  7. jazz
  8. voodoo
Noun
  • The lyrics coalesced slowly, with McCartney filling the incomplete sections with nonsense phrases.
    — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Statham, who turned 59 this summer and is still in incredible shape, performs on his usual high-octane, no-time-for-nonsense level.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • The sequel takes place 25 years after the original 1998 cult classic movie, as the sisters try to break their family curse along with Sally’s daughters Kylie (Joey King) and Antonio (Maisie Williams).
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sally and Gillian come from a long line of witches and have lived in a resplendent Massachusetts home with their aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest) ever since a curse struck down their father and led to their mother’s suicide.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of curse
Noun
  • The Central Valley is known as America’s salad bowl, for its vast production fruits, vegetables and nuts that stock refrigerators and kitchen tables across America.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Many of California’s Asian American leaders have come through that boot camp, which provides training on the nuts-and-bolts of organizing, media relations, and messaging.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • During the final half-hour, Leeds stepped off and Newcastle had their best spell, culminating in Bazoumana Toure scoring his first Premier League goal, though by then the game had long been lost.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But Practical Magic 2’s spell over the box office may not have been cast to last.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of spell
Noun
  • Minutes later, another man rifled through the same pile of garbage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd revolted, showering the court with cups, beer cans and garbage.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • Well, even just normal-life magic — jinxes, coincidences, destiny.
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The ‘seven-year jinx’ — the K-pop industry’s shorthand for the contract expiration point at which groups typically fracture — did not claim TWICE on schedule, but in a way, has just claimed its first member now.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of jinx
Noun
  • In the video version, a ragtag group of Von Trapp Family-esque singers in mountain peasant regalia sing a song, with the paterfamilias (Kjartansson) leading on jazz guitar.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Festival season gets underway with Adams Morgan Day, a pair of jazz festivals, outdoor art shows, Oktoberfest and a giant birthday party.
    — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of jazz
Noun
  • The production centers on a voodoo queen and the mysterious happenings in a cemetery.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Seabrook’s primary focus was on Vodou aka voodoo rituals, which had long constituted an underground religious practice amongst populations outwardly accepting of Catholicism.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of voodoo
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

hoodlums
hoodoo
hoodoos
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Cite this Entry

“Hoodoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoodoo. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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