humbug 1 of 3

noun (1)

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

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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 3

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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humbuggery

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in nuts
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a lot of humbuggery about a mean old witch that lives in the woods

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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
Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024 Plump four-poster beds are covered in rich floral fabrics or set against wallpaper patterned like humbugs. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 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
  1. fool
  2. trick
  3. deceive
Verb
  • Don’t be fooled by the name; despite its slouchy appearance, this shoulder purse can fit a laptop, a notebook, a small makeup bag, and more.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Stallings hung the breaking ball and Bader wasn’t fooled.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • The scam reportedly tricked Russian drone operators into giving away the location of their Starlink terminals, allowing Ukrainian artillery and drones to target them.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Or, in other words, tricking them by holding up a sign.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • After the remaining contestants voted out Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski and Eric Nam, Higgins was blindsided to discover her close ally, Rob Rausch, was deceiving her all along.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • In addition, the complaint alleges that Walmart deceived customers by falsely claiming that 100% of customer tips would go to drivers.
    — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of deceive

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 7 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on humbug

Nglish: Translation of humbug for Spanish Speakers

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