as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
starting with the cherry tree, much of what was written by Washington's early biographers was pure poppycock
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Recent Examples of poppycock
Regardless, concerns that the series’ delay was due to quality problems have proved to be viral poppycock.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
Buckingham Palace simply couldn’t abide someone in its circle saying poppycock.
—Vulture, 29 Aug. 2023
This is, as Raymond Reddington might say, utter poppycock.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2023
Taylor had said in the weeks leading up to his exit that Utah was the place for him and that Whittingham was the mentor for him, all of which was poppycock.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Dec. 2022
Skeptics pounced on the proclamation as pure poppycock—and for understandable reasons.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 13 May 2022
McVay was tired of the poppycock.
—Dallas News, 21 Sep. 2021
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
Buckingham Palace simply couldn’t abide someone in its circle saying poppycock.
—Vulture, 29 Aug. 2023
This is, as Raymond Reddington might say, utter poppycock.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2023
Taylor had said in the weeks leading up to his exit that Utah was the place for him and that Whittingham was the mentor for him, all of which was poppycock.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Dec. 2022
Skeptics pounced on the proclamation as pure poppycock—and for understandable reasons.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 13 May 2022
McVay was tired of the poppycock.
—Dallas News, 21 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poppycock
Noun
-
Lisha speaks nonsense — or is that because she is concussed?—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Explaining exactly why this particular trend, like so many confounding memes and viral nonsense, will travel unbelievably far on the web, and elsewhere, is as easy as painting wind.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t use mulch made from black walnut wood, leaves, or nuts near your orchard.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
-
So in 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases formally recommended parents introduce children under the age of 3 to allergens like nuts.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stop Sales sent the raw chicken, cut cow foot and jerk sauce into the garbage.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Prosecutors said Hernandez choked Etan, stuffed his body into a plastic garbage bag hidden inside a box and took it out with the trash.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One hurdle for these editors is that far-right hate is more conducive to digital slop, both because algorithms prize outlandish ragebait and because the tribalistic ideas themselves are low IQ rubbish.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
-
This was due to the incredible amount of rubbish that had been left to pile up inside.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If your manicure has been feeling a little blah recently, one of the best ways to elevate your look is with the best accent nail ideas.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Quietly, 2023 lottery pick Taylor Hendricks is also here somewhere after a blah rookie year and a second season lost to injury.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some hijinks and silliness happen.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
As Theodore Logan, Keanu Reeves found the perfect vessel for his serene silliness, playing well off Alex Winter’s equally clueless Bill.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At one point, Pancho is filmed getting a bath in the sink, likely to wash off the drool from his oversized pals.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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The trailer opens with Elsbeth — clad in a hot-pink plaid suit that would make Cher from Clueless drool — asleep on a couch behind a pile of pastel-pink luggage in the office of Scotty Bristol (Stephen Colbert), the host of the fictional late-night show Way Late with Scotty Bristol.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Snack Homiez’ back-and-forth, soothing in its stupidity, reminded me of this Kate McKinnon-Aidy Bryant two-hander from 2021.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
19 Oct. 2025
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In Del Toro’s film, the creature isn’t rejected for his loathsome appearance but for his apparent stupidity.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poppycock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poppycock. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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