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
  • There had been a lot of hype around Apple Intelligence a year ago.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • By contrast, Palmeiras, arguably the best team in South America, earned their spot in the Club World Cup by winning the 2023-24 Copa Libertadores and kicked off the tournament after a successful season back home and a lot of hype about their star striker Estêvão.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • In the 1990s, brothers Richard and George Shea took over the company's publicity efforts and grew the contest into a bona fide bonanza, referring to the competitors as athletes and giving them elaborate, hyperbolic introductions.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 17 June 2025
  • Mary Elliott-Klemm, publicity chairperson for Indivisible El Dorado, said liberals in the county have often kept a low profile while living in a largely-conservative area.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • Ben’s view The advertising business has always been uniquely vulnerable to extortion.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 June 2025
  • The homey space, panelled in dark wood, recalls a nineties coffeehouse, chockablock with sports memorabilia and flyers advertising community events: an adult L.G.B.T.Q.+ summer camp, an Asian climbers’ meetup called ElevAsian.
    Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Enhancing Media Engagement And Advertising Impact Media consumption and advertisement will be the first real-world use cases with broad adoption.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Other options include signing up for newsletters or watching a short advertisement.
    Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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