1
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
tests showed that the "old" map of America was a cleverly made humbug
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
those UFO stories are a lot of humbug
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3
as in fraud
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
one humbug after another claimed to be the miraculously surviving daughter of the Russian czar
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as in to fool
to cause to believe what is untrue
humbugged into believing that the bones were the skeleton of a prehistoric human being
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humbug
IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024
Mean One features David Howard Thornton, known for playing Art the Clown in the Terrifier movies, as a familiar-looking green-skinned humbug in a Santa suit, living on a mountain high above the small town town of Newville.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023
Elizabeth Wolfe and Douglas S. Wood, CNN, 21 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for humbug
Noun
Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024
Mean One features David Howard Thornton, known for playing Art the Clown in the Terrifier movies, as a familiar-looking green-skinned humbug in a Santa suit, living on a mountain high above the small town town of Newville.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023
Verb
In its verb form, to be humbugged is to be deceived or be the victim of a hoax.
—Elizabeth Wolfe and Douglas S. Wood, CNN, 21 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for humbug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbug
Noun
-
The medical and psychiatric records in question supported the argument by relatives of Sandy Hook victims that they had been traumatized by Jones’ assertions that the elementary school massacre was a hoax and by years of harassment by members of his audience.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2025
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President Trump has called climate change a hoax and railed against wind turbines, energy efficiency standards and electric vehicles.—
Neela Banerjee,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But the Dutton nephew is not hearing any of that nonsense.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
23 Mar. 2025
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The 38-piece capsule captures the show’s sense of kooky nautical nonsense, the lovable yellow sponge’s face crocheted into a pipsqueak-sized tote bag, printed onto swim trunks, and plastered on slingback espadrilles.—
Violet Goldstone,
WWD,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Deputy Sheriffs are responsible for executing eviction notices, orders of protection, and investigating financial and tax fraud.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2025
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Quantum computing could allow companies to analyze risk, detect fraud, and predict market trends better than ever before.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This pair looks like a classic trouser, with front pleats and a relaxed leg — but don’t be fooled.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2025
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Do not be fooled by this bill’s carve-out for masks worn for health and religious reasons.—
Nikki Morse,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Cases of counterfeits have been rare, but with prices rising into the six- and seven-figure range, obtaining that certified guarantee is important.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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Thousands of counterfeit forever stamps were blocked from entering postal circulation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Alabama, officials said.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The property also grows its own herbs, greens, nuts, berries, and edible flowers.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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Focus on whole foods like fruits, leafy green vegetables, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The cotton quilt is lightweight enough for year-round use and includes two matching shams to complete the look.—
Megan Schaltegger,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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The decision to annul November’s election had little precedent and handed a propaganda victory to Moscow, which has long dismissed Western democracy as a sham in which elites fix the results to suppress unorthodox views and guarantee an outcome favorable to the liberal establishment.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Increasingly, criminals are able to use commonly available tools to launch sophisticated phishing scams, going as far as digitally replicating faces and voices in order to trick security systems.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Phishing is a cyber-attack that aims to trick people into divulging personal information.—
Solcyré Burga,
TIME,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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