HOKUM Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

hokum

noun

ˈhō-kəm

Definition of hokum

as in nonsense

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a movie about the disaster that's pure Hollywood hokum

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 hokum What finally holds all the hokum together is Pitt. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2025 Is this common household spice really an effective tool in the garden, or is this just influencer hokum? — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025 From the foothills of the Berkshires arises a venerable strain of American madness, the poetry of hokum—the old weird America of medicine shows and travelling circuses and carnivals. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025 In past case studies of argyria, a common source is hokum therapies promoted by naturopaths and their ilk. — Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hokum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hokum

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

Noun

Some nuts also contain melatonin, which helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

— Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026
Last year’s release was influenced by Mexican cuisine with a pulque finish, while this year looked to Ancient Egypt by giving the whiskey a finish in barrels seasoned with liqueur made from tiger nuts and black honey.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of nuts

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

Noun

Learning that countless more people will lose their lives on account of his neglect, greed, and stupidity, he is pressed, reluctantly, into a most self-serving mode of damage control.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Nerdiest song for drummers This will probably come down to stupidity.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of stupidity

Browse Nearby Words

hokeypokey

hokum

hold

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hokum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokum. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hokum

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes