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

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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 Otherwise, a spectacle that’s supposed to be an ode to the power of Hollywood hokum simply becomes the minor-key embodiment of it. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025 There are definitely laughs in Maddie’s Secret, but the point of the movie is almost to get beyond them, to the place where naive hokum could yield moments of inexplicable resonance. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 19 June 2026 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 At Pasadena Playhouse, where a revival of the 1947 musical is occurring, some of the audience may already have a different miracle in mind, unrelated to any mystical Scottish hokum coming up in the plot. — Chris Willman, Variety, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for hokum

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hokum

Noun

Until recently, that would have sounded like absolute nonsense.

— Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 June 2026
There weren’t meetings with executives about tone and mood and all this nonsense.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of nonsense

Noun

Decomposing food can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas synonymous with landfills and garbage.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Epidemics, worsened by the unsanitary conditions caused by the mountains of garbage the government has stopped collecting, combine with the shortage of medicines and the dire state of medical facilities.

— Sarah Moreno July 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

Granola One of the original ‘health foods,’ granola contains many nutritious ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and seeds.

— Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 July 2026
California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of nuts

Noun

Minions & Monsters kept its familiar chaos intact, but its turn toward sentiment may have left behind some of the pure silliness that built its core audience at home.

— David Deal, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Karaoke, whether at a public bar or in one of the private rooms available in most cities, is commitment-free silliness and one of the easiest ways to shake off a long week.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of silliness

Noun

Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
So where does the rubbish come from?

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026

Definition of rubbish

Noun

Green Bay Packers For a team coming off back-to-back wild-card-round exits and that hasn’t reached the conference championship game since the 2020 season, the Packers had a rather blah offseason.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Best Fashion Deals If your summer wardrobe is feeling a little blah, Amazon’s Outlet fashion deals are the perfect place for a refresh.

— Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026

Definition of blah

Noun

Is there a level of insanity, vitriol and stupidity that is infiltrating almost every aspect of our modern society, regardless of your political or religious views?

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Warm, fuzzy feelings for noble stupidity are an American thing, especially in politics.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026

Definition of stupidity

Browse Nearby Words

hokeypokey

hokum

hold

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“Hokum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hokum. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hokum

noun

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