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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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 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 After quoting extensively from a Communist writer, Kengor dismisses the content of the quotation out of hand without making any argument: This, of course, is relativistic pabulum. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 3 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
  • The legislation mandates regular background checks for drivers, requires all rides to be recorded, and bans the exchange of food and drinks between riders and drivers, among other measures.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The payloads aboard this Dragon cargo mission—the 32nd by SpaceX—include normal things like fresh food (exactly 1,262 tortillas), biomedical and pharmaceutical experiments, and the technical demonstration of a new atomic clock.
    Abigail Bassett, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • During their bloom time, the nourishment comes from the roots because all of the bulb's energy has gone to the bloom and foliage.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Spencer's better, bad luck-prone half also needs some nourishment.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pabulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pabulum. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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