humbug 1 of 2

noun

ˈhəm-ˌbəg How to pronounce humbug (audio)
Definition of humbugnext
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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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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humbug

2 of 2

verb

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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How is the word humbug different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of humbug are counterfeit, fake, fraud, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When would counterfeit be a good substitute for humbug?

Although the words counterfeit and humbug have much in common, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When might fake be a better fit than humbug?

The synonyms fake and humbug are sometimes interchangeable, but fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When can fraud be used instead of humbug?

The words fraud and humbug are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When could imposture be used to replace humbug?

The words imposture and humbug can be used in similar contexts, but imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

When is sham a more appropriate choice than humbug?

While in some cases nearly identical to humbug, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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 humbug
Noun
These small marine reef fish are often known by the peculiar common name, the humbug damselfish (Figure 1). —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024
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
  1. hoax
  2. nonsense
  3. fraud
  4. fool
  5. counterfeit
  6. nuts
  7. sham
  8. trick
Noun
  • The threat turned out to be a hoax, but the suspicions among staff illustrated how deep the rift had become.
    — Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
  • Decades of debate have followed on whether the film was a hoax.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • But anatomically speaking, this is absolute nonsense.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • Travelers say they're done listening to the nonsense they've been fed.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • The appeals court that ordered a trial court to reconsider Peters' sentence said the trial judge's consideration of her belief in the existence of 2020 election fraud went beyond what was relevant to sentencing her.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 16 May 2026
  • Dana Williamson, former top aide to Newsom, pleaded guilty in an FBI corruption probe to bank fraud, filing a false tax return and lying to the FBI.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • Don’t be fooled into thinking napkin rings aren’t noticed.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
  • But this case shows how quickly a 401(k) can become a target when someone has enough personal information to fool a call center or reset account access.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • Unprosecuted crimes against the public — such as the widespread sale of 78-cent postage stamps for 19 cents to 59 cents, rolls of 100, counterfeits all, for years online.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
  • Its expert team enforces strict production rules, promotes the brand globally, fights counterfeits and certifies every wheel.
    — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Definition of counterfeit
Noun
  • If the holes appear shallow, then they could be made by squirrels, looking for places to store nuts, or by skunks and raccoons, digging for grubs.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
  • Some foods - like whole grains, kale, nuts and seeds - are good sources of insoluble fiber, which helps keep digestion moving.
    — Maria Godoy, NPR, 18 May 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • The three-piece set includes two 20x26-inch matching pillow shams.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
  • Then snap up this pretty seersucker comforter set that includes two pillow shams and sheets (and comes in 30 colors) for just $37.
    — Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Definition of sham
Verb
  • Anchoring, scarcity and choice architecture aren’t about tricking people.
    — David Meade, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
  • The church hosts sure love tricking us into eating raw broccoli by serving it up in this creamy pasta salad.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Definition of trick

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of humbug for Spanish Speakers

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