phony-baloney

adjective

ˈfō-nē-bə-ˈlō-nē How to pronounce phony-baloney (audio)
variants or phoney-baloney
Definition of phony-baloneynext
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express if you believe the company's phony-baloney press releases, it's in business solely for the benefit of mankind

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 phony-baloney The script is by David Koepp (writer of the best Mission: Impossible, the 1996 Brian De Palma iteration), and it’s filled with shimmery red herrings and liberal lashings of phony-baloney techno-spy stuff. — Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony-baloney
  1. fake
  2. counterfeit
  3. lip
  4. double
  5. hypocritical
  6. phony
Adjective
  • In the days following his post attacking me as fake news, Trump followed up with threats of lawsuits against journalists that use unnamed sources to report on his actions.
    — Michael Wolff, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
  • North Korean group Famous Chollima created fake LinkedIn profiles and used AI for job interviews to land positions at tech companies.
    — Megan Poinski, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • On May 6, 2022, Yusuf sold counterfeit blue M30 Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to Murray and her boyfriend in a Taco Bell parking lot in Folsom, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Tatum starred as Shawn MacArthur, a small-time street hustler who sells counterfeit wares before being recruited to make money by participating in amateur street fights.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of counterfeit
Adjective
  • By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 2 Mar. 2025
  • For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
Definition of lip
Adjective
  • This was a record turnaround among SpaceX launches from Space Coast launch pads at 2 hours and 54 minutes besting October’s double launch that saw a Falcon 9 launch at CCSFS just eight hours, 42 minutes after a Falcon Heavy launch at KSC.
    — Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Agencies specializing in digital grew staff base by around 15%, which was double unscripted and quadruple scripted.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of double
Adjective
  • The Schimel campaign called the Wisconsin Democrats’ efforts hypocritical, referencing reporting that Crawford participated in a donor advisory briefing.
    — Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
  • But spending taxpayer money for anything short of necessities comes off as hypocritical, at best, especially for Trump, as his administration guts federal agencies — including those Central Floridians rely on during times of their greatest need.
    — The Orlando Sentinel and Santa Cruz Sentinel editorial boards, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of hypocritical
Adjective
  • After the victim was convinced to provide the phony bail money, a co-conspirator in the United States would go to the elderly victim’s home to collect the money.
    — Steve Weisman, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The scam texts can be more or less specific, but usually threaten the loss of your license, additional penalties, a report to the DMV or legal consequences for not paying the phony tolls.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of phony

Browse Nearby Words

phony
phony-baloney
phonying
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Cite this Entry

“Phony-baloney.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony-baloney. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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