phony-baloney

adjective

ˈfō-nē-bə-ˈlō-nē How to pronounce phony-baloney (audio)
variants or phoney-baloney
Definition of phony-baloneynext
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express if you believe the company's phony-baloney press releases, it's in business solely for the benefit of mankind

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 phony-baloney Namely, their own phony-baloney, six-figure jobs. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony-baloney
  1. fake
  2. double
  3. meaningless
  4. phony
  5. hypocritical
  6. lip
  7. artificial
  8. superficial
Adjective
  • Once roles are introduced to the game, the players make a comedy meal out of loudly fake narrating what Sam is doing while they’re blindfolded.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Those who speak a password, released via social media, receive a fake business card, which does mean many a guest is standing there shouting a password at the actor.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • The black walnut double staircase in the center hall foyer has carved lions.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The formula includes lactic acid, a chemical exfoliator that breaks down dead skin, for a double dose of skin-smoothing power.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of double
Adjective
  • The grand scale of cosmic time reminds her (and us) that social mores and strictures are tiny, meaningless things, that what matters is passion and freedom.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The world’s increasingly pro-Chinese attitude is not meaningless.
    — Adam Y. Liu, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of meaningless
Adjective
  • But when the obvious answer is to start Cousins and let Mendoza grow for a bit at the beginning of the regular season, this tactic by Kubiak seems phony.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Bass was far from the only person or group duped by the phony poll.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of phony
Adjective
  • There is something deeply hypocritical about discovering and using the language of women’s liberation only when your own status, reputation, or income is at stake.
    — Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
  • That some people in these industries, including those who are well paid, would look at our economy and seek out other ways of doing things is neither hypocritical nor surprising.
    — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of hypocritical
Adjective
  • Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.
    — Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025
Definition of lip
Adjective
  • All of those companies have been massive winners for investors this year, with HPE and AMD more than doubling in value and Intel almost tripling, as the artificial infrastructure buildout expands to companies beyond Nvidia.
    — Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • These could be something as natural as gravity pulling the fluid downwards, or an artificial intervention like a propeller.
    — Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of artificial
Adjective
  • That is at best a superficial understanding of the work involved in psychiatric treatment and the substantial labor that occurs outside the appointment itself.
    — Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The privileges of Jover’s life appear entirely superficial, even a bit alien, when contrasted with her granddaughter’s narrative thread.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of superficial

Browse Nearby Words

phony
phony-baloney
phonying
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Cite this Entry

“Phony-baloney.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony-baloney. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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