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 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
But overall, there should be a substantial amount of sizzle — or at least copious amounts of hot air and puffery — coming from next week’s upfront presentations.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 May 2024
This is where the focused music hall puffery of the production helps.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for puffery
Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 June 2024
But overall, there should be a substantial amount of sizzle — or at least copious amounts of hot air and puffery — coming from next week’s upfront presentations.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 May 2024
This is where the focused music hall puffery of the production helps.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for puffery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffery
Noun
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Games and the hype around them are huge cultural touchpoints.—
The Sports Desk,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
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After years of hype and preparation, Formula 1’s new technical era for 2026 got underway this week in Barcelona in somewhat unusual fashion.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Until recent publicity prompted the group to change tactics, new members faced a straightforward onboarding process.—
Christina Buttons,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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Their other services include content sales, financing, marketing and publicity, as well as corporate advisory.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Services revenue includes revenue streams like Apple TV, advertising, cloud services, music and payment services, and App Store.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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The company’s primary advertising engine is operating effectively.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And of course, boozy advertisements featuring Clydesdales, Olympians, celebrities and fembots.—
John Kell,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The finish area was stripped of color and the usual sponsor advertisements.—
Graham Dunbar,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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