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
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Recent Examples of puffery
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
That moment taught me the value of candor over puffery.
—Marc Stad, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024
The defense also has claimed that prosecutors are casting commonplace entrepreneurial puffery as a crime and singling out Watson, a Black founder in a tech world where African American executives have been disproportionately few.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for puffery
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
That moment taught me the value of candor over puffery.
—Marc Stad, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024
The defense also has claimed that prosecutors are casting commonplace entrepreneurial puffery as a crime and singling out Watson, a Black founder in a tech world where African American executives have been disproportionately few.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for puffery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffery
Noun
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There was a lot of hype about it back then.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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On social media, the Dodgers unveiled their opening day hype video.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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By participating in the contest, the winners agree to have their name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this contest, and to sign a publicity release, affidavit of eligibility and release of liability prior to acceptance of the prize.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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It wasn’t given huge amounts of publicity at the beginning.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Both trials — one in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the other in Los Angeles — pointed to the struggles Meta has faced to adequately police Facebook and Instagram, which remain the company's primary cash engines due to their dominant position in digital advertising.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
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But the gambling companies take in revenue directly from each wager, unlike the social-media apps, which make money by selling advertising.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When Barbara was 3 years old, her mother saw an advertisement for the Little Miss Little Rock Contest and entered the child, who won.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Mar. 2026
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Ubiquitous advertisements on television and social media, often fronted by celebrities and sports idols, are now often the first exposure to gambling for children.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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