as in food
something that maintains or stimulates the intellect
we have reached a cultural low if reality television is regarded as pabulum for the masses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pabulum
On their face, Grok’s responses seem at least as coherent as some of the bland crisis-management pabulum that comes from prominent figures facing their own controversies.
—
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 Jan. 2026
This was culture as interchangeable primetime pabulum; three minutes apiece for the acts to impress the new judges and boost sales.
—Mike McCahill, Variety, 8 May 2023
Twitter account, which spouted pabulum about the decency of the human spirit, became extremely popular.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Try to imagine Britain’s prime minister rallying his nation to fight the Nazi war machine armed with this progressive pabulum.
—Joseph Loconte, National Review, 9 Sep. 2020
His onscreen counterpart in the film adaptation of this story, Memoir of a Murderer, trades in this complexity for more standard antihero pabulum (his only desire is to keep Eunhui safe).
—Alana Mohamed, The Atlantic, 11 June 2019
The pabulum that passes for most reviews is an insult to the intelligence of most readers.
—Christian Lorentzen, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019
They are just being fed this pabulum of leftist ideology.
—Fox News, 25 Apr. 2018
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 Jan. 2026
This was culture as interchangeable primetime pabulum; three minutes apiece for the acts to impress the new judges and boost sales.
—Mike McCahill, Variety, 8 May 2023
Twitter account, which spouted pabulum about the decency of the human spirit, became extremely popular.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Try to imagine Britain’s prime minister rallying his nation to fight the Nazi war machine armed with this progressive pabulum.
—Joseph Loconte, National Review, 9 Sep. 2020
His onscreen counterpart in the film adaptation of this story, Memoir of a Murderer, trades in this complexity for more standard antihero pabulum (his only desire is to keep Eunhui safe).
—Alana Mohamed, The Atlantic, 11 June 2019
The pabulum that passes for most reviews is an insult to the intelligence of most readers.
—Christian Lorentzen, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019
They are just being fed this pabulum of leftist ideology.
—Fox News, 25 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pabulum
Noun
-
And there is hope for future deals in other areas, such as on food products.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
-
An all-day menu is also available—whether for a sit-down lunch, or just snacks by the pool—with mezze-type foods like tabbouleh, tomato salad, feta with olives and grapes, and garlic fries, as well as larger plates like a fennel and beef burger and a sardine pie.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
While some beaches remain wide and sand is plentiful, other beaches need human help — and when beach nourishment projects don’t happen, impacts become apparent.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
18 June 2026
-
Water the plant deeply and slowly at the base rather than overhead, as this will ensure the roots receive sufficient nourishment and help prevent diseases that can arise from wet foliage.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pabulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pabulum. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
