Definition of pufferynext
as in hype
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause the newspaper's local stories are often thinly disguised puffery for area businesses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 puffery But management also decided against trying to brag about these network-level changes with new status-bar icons or other sorts of customer-experience puffery. Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026 Vendor puffery may also be legal, but that means the IT customer needs a healthy skepticism of the typically too-good-to-be-true promises vendors make. IEEE Spectrum, 23 Nov. 2025 The defendants have been described by one defense lawyer as being video gamers and recreational gun enthusiasts who were engaged in puffery, nothing else. Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025 Which is why, having failed to stop the coming spending cuts with preening puffery and shameless dishonesty, defenders of taxpayer dollars for public media have pulled out the last tool out of their political toolbox. Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for puffery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffery
Noun
  • Her easy power is as exciting as all the hype beyond the doors.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 26 July 2026
  • The very employers that were quick to lay off workers because of the AI hype are quickly realizing that this rash decision is costly.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • For Universal Studios Hollywood, the complaints, first reported on social media and quickly picked up by media outlets, have added a sudden jolt of negative publicity around what was intended to be the North American ride of 2026.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • On Wednesday July 22, various Hollywood publicity firms were informed of the protocol change, according to an email obtained by Variety.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • The advertising company had recently issued a fresh profit warning after a sharp decline in revenues and the loss of key clients, including Coca-Cola’s North American business and Mars’ snacking and pet care accounts.
    Sam Birchall, Fortune, 24 July 2026
  • There is no federal law requiring companies to disclose when advertising content has been created using AI.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • This move follows New York's new synthetic performer disclosure law, effective June 9, which penalizes undisclosed AI use in advertisements.
    Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • In another project in Cote d'Ivoire, BIO Ventures helped create a public awareness campaign with video advertisements on commuter buses, encouraging men to get regular screenings for prostate cancer.
    Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 25 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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