1
as in goose
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
only a turkey would think it's a good idea to go for a jog when the weather drops below zero
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
you turkey, that wasn't my boyfriend—it was my brother!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disaster
something that has failed
his business venture ended up being a turkey, and he lost quite a bit of money on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 turkey
Look for an ode to Thanksgiving with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and more in November.
—
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 3 Feb. 2026
Several types of animals are raised at the farm including sheep, cattle, turkeys, hogs, and miniature donkeys.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Some chefs dedicate themselves to tasting menus of one-bite intricacies, with every microgreen tweezered into place and every sauce drizzled just so; others master the art of deep-frying turkeys.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Piles of organic and locally sourced produce, from delicata squash to Japanese sweet potatoes, beckoned, as did prepared foods like sushi, fig turkey sandwiches, and cups of parfait cookies and cream.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turkey
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 3 Feb. 2026
Several types of animals are raised at the farm including sheep, cattle, turkeys, hogs, and miniature donkeys.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Some chefs dedicate themselves to tasting menus of one-bite intricacies, with every microgreen tweezered into place and every sauce drizzled just so; others master the art of deep-frying turkeys.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Piles of organic and locally sourced produce, from delicata squash to Japanese sweet potatoes, beckoned, as did prepared foods like sushi, fig turkey sandwiches, and cups of parfait cookies and cream.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turkey
Noun
-
In one painfully funny sequence, a visiting gallerist (and gasbag) barely seems to care about her art, showing more interest in a goose’s nest that has materialized in an enclosure.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
And the plot is a high-drama, goose-bumpy ride that sits somewhere between Shakespearean and soap opera.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The club would mark the anniversary before the game closest to the disaster.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The two were at odds over the press conferences that were held to update the public on the disaster and on efforts to reopen the burn area to traffic.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sadly, OpenAI plays us for fools.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
-
For years, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been a wizard at designing blitzes that fool quarterbacks.—
Sam McDowell
February 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Overwhelmingly, though, the most common response was to seek confirmation of their suspicions that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were morons.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Because of Tuesday’s rule failure, any bills tucked into that measure sit at a standstill.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The death certificate listed Fisher’s cause of death as septic shock, a bacterial infection, acute kidney failure and pneumonia.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Beating these lunatics was incredible, right?—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
That Tomás, who has already survived the Great Hunger as well as a cruel workhouse, isn’t already a lunatic is perhaps less fantastical than the plot itself at times.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There is nothing in the past year that suggests that the portion of this global event that will take place in the U.S. will proceed with anything less than exhausting chaos, a spoonful of stupid, and a dash of tragedy.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Jan. 2026
-
And then, the rest of her life, filled with big stupids and everything else, will begin.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Not the fear of an actor out of her element, or the more mundane fear of a victim being chased around by an ax-wielding maniac.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turkey. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
