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
  • Coming from someone responsible for one of the most consequential software projects on Earth, that feels like a fairly pragmatic assessment, not just hype.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But Kahan got there first, delivering a stunning experience more than worthy of the global hype.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • The tattoo stunt generated the most publicity, of course, much of it negative.
    Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • What this effort points to is the need for a federal right of publicity statute, like the languishing NO FAKES bill.
    Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • For political campaigns, where every advertising dollar must move voters, this shift has forced a rethink of how television works.
    Kris Qiu, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, had amassed roughly $16 million for her reelection bid before Jackson became the nominee, while Republicans have already begun spending to introduce him to voters through negative advertising.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • That outside spending has helped flood mailboxes and the airwaves with advertisements.
    Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Social media is riddled with advertisements from companies and consultants promising the secret formulas to maximize odds of admission.
    Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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