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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humbug
Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023
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
Plump four-poster beds are covered in rich floral fabrics or set against wallpaper patterned like humbugs.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023
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
-
In turn, the Koch brothers supported climate denial think tanks, while Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s Fox News nightly broadcasts worked overtime to convince Americans that both climate change and COVID-19 were hoaxes or that vaccines were ineffective or unsafe.—
Michael E. Mann,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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While these hoaxes mostly ended up being false alarms, experts note that these types of hoaxes are not only a serious crime with substantial penalties for those involved but can also put first responders and bystanders at risk.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Not to mention the Epstein files nonsense.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Learning that, following that childbirth/torture nonsense, Julia and Davina are now friends.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still, fraud investigations are likely to remain in the headlines, presenting a lasting vulnerability for the governor, Schier said.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
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More recently, her brother, Jose Napoleon, the director of admissions at Azure College in Fort Lauderdale, was charged this year with a wire-fraud conspiracy involving the sale of false nursing degrees.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Your press release isn’t fooling anyone.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Replacing Nina with a woman who has the same initials as her is not going to fool us!—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Marq Vision was cofounded in 2020 by Mark Lee, a former McKinsey consultant who holds a Doctor of Law from Harvard, to identify counterfeits in online listings using AI.—
Zinnia Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The complaint shows a slew of products that Twenty One Pilots alleges are counterfeits bearing their trademarks.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Almonds and walnuts are healthy tree nuts that offer a variety of nutrients, including healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Fill a vase with nuts or rocks and insert the branch.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Participants were randomized to receive either active HD-tDCS therapy (at a current of 2 mA) or sham therapy for 20 minutes every day for 12 consecutive working days.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Sep. 2025
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The quilt comes with two matching pillow shams for a unified look.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Although Louverture had resigned from his position as governor-general of the colony in May, in June 1802 one of Leclerc’s generals tricked Louverture into a meeting, summarily arrested him, along with his wife and children, and then forced them all onto a ship destined for France.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
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On Tuesday, a federal judge will begin hearing the Federal Trade Commission’s case against Amazon that alleges the company intentionally used manipulative practices to trick customers into signing up for the Prime membership service, and knowingly complicated the cancellation process.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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