CLAPTRAP Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

claptrap 1 of 2

noun

ˈklap-ˌtrap

Definition of claptrap

as in nonsense

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense the idea that you can get a cold from not dressing warmly is claptrap

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

claptrap

2 of 2

adjective

as in mechanical

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 claptrap

Noun

Behavioral-analysis claptrap abounds. — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026 The show is also virtually devoid of romantic escapades, a good thing since Dumas’ novel is filled with a lot of sentimental claptrap about fighting for defenseless women’s honor or seducing virtuous maidens or going to war due to the physical beauty of a monarch. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026 This is Spielberg at his most pure and sensational, an undiluted cinematic experience that lacks any of his sentimental claptrap and steers clear of his tendency for multiple endings. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025 Many Red Sox fans have had it up to here with that building-for-the-future claptrap, so much so that expectations were scary low coming into the 2024 season. — Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 31 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for claptrap

Recent Examples of Synonyms for claptrap

Noun

Same goes for Chock Chapple (6), because life’s too short to be typing that nonsense in a search field.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
What Trump is serving up is precisely the kind of paternalistic nonsense that women have fought against for the past century, now applied to nation states.

— Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of nonsense

Noun

If the brain’s plumbing doesn’t work properly, research shows, cellular garbage accumulates, and a cleaner brain may be a healthier one.

— Richard Sima, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
After the ad went viral on social media, Republican candidate for state school superintendent Sonja Shaw called it creepy, weird garbage.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of garbage

Adjective

Californian Fred Karger, who made history in 2012 as the first openly gay person to run for president, had mixed views about the ad, calling it shrewd yet hypocritical.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Some churches have rightly been accused of being partisan, hypocritical and discriminatory toward women and minorities.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hypocritical

Noun

Twisted Teens are far from rubbish, but that isn't stopping them from playing in the trash for their latest music video.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of rubbish

Adjective

His lens democratizes power the contrived space of the studio set, with the goal of empowering real-life servants.

— Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
These sequences are no less contrived than the rest of this malformed blockbuster, but their growing emphasis on performativeness helps to paint a target that Iñárritu actually knows how to hit.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of contrived

Noun

Pairing fruits with protein or healthy fats, like nuts or cheese, can help slow digestion and reduce blood sugar spikes.

— Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 28 Sep. 2026
Your doctor may also recommend eating more iron-rich foods, such as red meat, poultry and fish, as well as legumes, leafy greens, seeds and nuts.

— Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of nuts

Adjective

Functional performance has always been counted in throughput, cost per transaction and cycle time, and those measures become close to meaningless once the routine work runs itself.

— Charisma Glassman, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
If all of City’s results are to be scrapped this season, next season, or in four seasons to come, then whatever happens in the meantime is somewhat meaningless.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026