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humbug

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word humbug different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of humbug are counterfeit, fake, fraud, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When would counterfeit be a good substitute for humbug?

Although the words counterfeit and humbug have much in common, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When might fake be a better fit than humbug?

The synonyms fake and humbug are sometimes interchangeable, but fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When can fraud be used instead of humbug?

The words fraud and humbug are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When could imposture be used to replace humbug?

The words imposture and humbug can be used in similar contexts, but imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

When is sham a more appropriate choice than humbug?

While in some cases nearly identical to humbug, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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 humbug
Noun
Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024 Mean One features David Howard Thornton, known for playing Art the Clown in the Terrifier movies, as a familiar-looking green-skinned humbug in a Santa suit, living on a mountain high above the small town town of Newville. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023
Verb
In its verb form, to be humbugged is to be deceived or be the victim of a hoax. Elizabeth Wolfe and Douglas S. Wood, CNN, 21 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for humbug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbug
Noun
  • Science and the truth don’t go well with the falsehood that climate change is a hoax.
    William "Coty" Keller, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
  • Michelle sat her down and explained that there was a group of conspiracy theorists that believed Sandy Hook was a government hoax to deny Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
    Karla Perez, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • While praised by real-life doctors for being one of the more accurate medical shows, Scrubs still made room for plenty of silly, lighthearted nonsense.
    James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 July 2025
  • In that case, this is a lot of nonsense over something that just won’t arise.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • One exception is if the government was able to prove that citizenship was obtained through fraud in the case of naturalization.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
  • In a plea deal, Johnson pled guilty to one count of broker-dealer registration violation, a Class C felony, in exchange for the 14 securities fraud counts being dismissed.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • His impersonation is so convincing that Lu and Shin are initially fooled.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 14 July 2025
  • Don’t let the size fool you—this ultra-compact charger delivers impressive speed and efficiency for its footprint.
    Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • But the errors on the alleged counterfeits aren’t the only reason that Levi’s believes PBG carried out its actions willfully and with knowledge.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 8 May 2025
  • The department said that U.S. consumers spend more than $100 billion every year on knock off goods, falling victim to approximately 20% of the counterfeits that are illegally sold worldwide.
    James Powel, USA Today, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Use it to find and retrieve stray nuts or bolts in any crevice.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Without that pollination, almond trees produce only 200 pounds of nuts per acre.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • All sets come with two matching pillow shams to complete your bedroom look.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
  • The basics that all comforter sets include are the comforter and one pillow sham, with some sets including an extra sham.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Luckily for Marian, much of Bertha’s attention is stolen by the unexpected arrival of her unsophisticated sister; Bertha’s too busy making snide comments and tricking her into wearing nicer gowns to even bother with Marian.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 13 July 2025
  • The offense is built on outside runs and tricking the defense.
    Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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