humbug 1 of 2

noun

ˈhəm-ˌbəg How to pronounce humbug (audio)
Definition of humbugnext
1
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine tests showed that the "old" map of America was a cleverly made humbug

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense those UFO stories are a lot of humbug

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3
as in fraud
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise one humbug after another claimed to be the miraculously surviving daughter of the Russian czar

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humbug

2 of 2

verb

as in to fool
to cause to believe what is untrue humbugged into believing that the bones were the skeleton of a prehistoric human being

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
These small marine reef fish are often known by the peculiar common name, the humbug damselfish (Figure 1). —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024
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
  1. hoax
  2. nonsense
  3. fraud
  4. fool
  5. counterfeit
  6. nuts
  7. sham
  8. trick
Noun
  • Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, has also been the subject of death hoaxes in the past, including in 2018, when a fake article reporting his death circulated online.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • This is why all the whining and complaining from small market teams across the sport is manipulative nonsense.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Or from whatever this risibly self-serious metaphysical nonsense about performance and possession, creation and exorcism, aims to be.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • Sean McMorris, transparency, ethics and accountability program manager with California Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, said in an email Friday that heavy reliance on outside vendors can increase the risk of fraud or mismanagement if oversight is weak.
    — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • DeviantArt’s Protect feature uses state-of-the-art image recognition to help safeguard creators’ work against unauthorized use, and the platform employs a dedicated team to investigate and mitigate the impact from spam, scams, fraud, and other bad actors.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • And last month, the FBI announced that individuals associated with Russian intelligence were posing as Signal’s security department to fool American government officials and journalists into providing information that would allow the hackers to take over their accounts.
    — Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Many a hunter has been fooled into giving up too soon.
    — Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • Greece, home to an extensive repository of cultural artifacts, has long contended with the proliferation of counterfeits and the looting of archaeological sites.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Superfakes is about a small-time Chinatown luxury counterfeit dealer who enters a dangerous black-market underworld in order to fund a life of suburban respectability for her family.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of counterfeit
Noun
  • Plain oats are nutritious on their own, but adding seeds, nuts, and fruit can provide a wider range of vitamins and minerals while increasing fiber and protein.
    — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Chopped nuts would add nice crunch.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Apr. 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • The set includes shams, is made of cotton, and is filled with a hypoallergenic polyester blend that’s safe for those with sensitive skin.
    — Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Plus, the matching shams are also on sale in the outlet for a budget-friendly bedding update.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of sham
Verb
  • Don’t let Sewanee, Tennessee’s, tiny size trick you into dismissing it.
    — Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
  • But in the end, the gang manages to trick Soldier Boy into going for an empty tube while Frenchie dons a gas mask and pours out the virus.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of trick

Browse Nearby Words

humbly
humbug
humbugged
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Cite this Entry

“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of humbug for Spanish Speakers

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