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
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Recent Examples of pabulum
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
Direct pronouncements from him are so rare that even this pabulum was treated as push-alert-worthy news.
—Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2018
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
Direct pronouncements from him are so rare that even this pabulum was treated as push-alert-worthy news.
—Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pabulum
Noun
-
Take four categories — food at home, housing, utilities and healthcare.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
At the same time, concern is growing about how certain food additives and preservatives may disrupt the gut’s delicate balance.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That extra nourishment and moisture is thanks mostly to the omega’s long-chain fatty acids, which act primarily on the surface of the hair, protecting against friction and heat.—
Philipp Wehsack,
Vogue,
2 Sep. 2025
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Whether worked into braids or smoothed over a fresh blowout, this oil delivers lasting nourishment while looking right at home in its sculptural, vanity-ready bottle.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pabulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pabulum. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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