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 That conclusion may sound preposterously quaint to some, unwelcome advice to a few, ridiculous puffery or an impossible goal to still others. David Baldacci, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024 Most mentions of Florida were mere puffery, with little indication of what DeSantis intends to accomplish. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2024 When the subject is not the movies but matters of the Middle East, the consequences of this sleight of hand are far graver than some dubious promotional puffery. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2024 This column is dedicated to my late father, Dr. Subhash Jain, a dedicated physician, father, grandfather, and husband who always prioritized the real work of delivering great patient care over hype—and always pushed me to look beyond puffery in the development of my own perspectives. Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for puffery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffery
Noun
  • Reality does not meet the hype, according to one expert.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 11 May 2025
  • Something doesn’t add up in terms of the hype and price….I’m struggling to come to any other conclusion than that his stock is greatly increased by being young and English and playing abroad.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Lewis also had his own communications staffer in London, who operated independently of the Post’s publicity department.
    Clare Malone, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
  • Despite the publicity and the flooding problem, year-over-year sales rose by 40%, and so did the median sale price — by $20,000.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • Getty Images for Paramount All of these factors play into a recurring question for the advertising market: Do the annual Upfronts still matter?
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 11 May 2025
  • Just avoid composting paper products that are treated with plastic or silicone, or glossy papers that are colored in brightly colored inks, like magazine pages and advertising inserts.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • An advertisement for an accident attorney—oh, what my life could have been.
    Allegra Leal, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
  • All told, the plaintiffs offer nearly 200 pages of allegations regarding celebrities and influencers who, among other things, lent their NIL, appeared at glitzy events, and were featured in advertisements and social media posts that encouraged fans to invest.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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