honky-tonks

noun

plural of honky-tonk
as in speakeasies

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for honky-tonks
  1. saloons
  2. barrooms
  3. taverns
  4. pubs
Noun
  • Creede, Leadville and Telluride had dozens of saloons packed in a few town blocks.
    — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Rather, the venues represent his affection for saloons and the people in them.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of saloons
Noun
  • It will be argued endlessly in barrooms in Pittsburgh.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • By the early 1930s, widespread crime, tainted liquor and the need for tax revenue fueled public dissatisfaction, ultimately leading to Prohibition’s repeal in 1933 and the return of regulated barrooms.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Definition of barrooms
Noun
  • The weeklong promotion highlights a wide range of cuisines, from steakhouses and seafood restaurants to taverns, bistros and international dining destinations.
    — Jane Imbody, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2026
  • So do not assume that an upcoming three-day event taking place at three notable Chicago taverns has anything to do with Algren’s fondness for alcohol.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of taverns
Noun
  • British pubs are struggling, with 161 shutting in the first quarter of 2026, up 26% from a year earlier.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The group became fixtures on London’s burgeoning pub-rock circuit, mixing rock, R&B and rockabilly at pubs, clubs and squat benefits around the city.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of pubs
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.

Browse Nearby Words

honky-tonk
honky-tonks
honor
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Cite this Entry

“Honky-tonks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honky-tonks. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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