humbug 1 of 3

noun (1)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

humbug

2 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

humbuggery

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in nuts
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a lot of humbuggery about a mean old witch that lives in the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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. nuts
  6. counterfeit
  7. blah
  8. sham
Noun
  • All of the threats, including the one at Zoo Atlanta, turned out to be hoaxes.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 May 2026
  • The case of Sherri Papini, the young woman who shocked the nation with a multi-year kidnapping hoax, has been the subject of multiple documentaries since her conviction in 2022.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • Of all the horrendous nonsense we were forced to entertain this spring, none of it was more horrendously nonsensical than the idea of people vibe-coding their own cybersecurity solutions.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 18 May 2026
  • There’s nothing wrong with nonsense.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • The arrest of a North Miami Beach condominium property manager in early April serves as a reminder for Florida condominium associations of the potential for fraud involving construction and renovation projects.
    — Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, Minnesota seems to be the fraud capital these days.
    — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 22 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The American League West is a Buc-ees-sized truck stop of blah, and an 81-win team could win it.
    — Mac Engel April 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Turn a blah brunch into a party with our famous Party Potatoes.
    — Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of blah
Noun
  • Make sure to add the matching shams to your order to complete the look.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
  • The three-piece set includes two 20x26-inch matching pillow shams.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
Definition of sham

Browse Nearby Words

humbly
humbug
humbugged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on humbug

Nglish: Translation of humbug for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of expedite

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

What to Call the Inept, Incompetent, and Inferior

The Words of the Week - May 22

Insults and Compliments from Recent Slang
See More

Popular

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
puzzle-piece-road
Missing Link Quiz May 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All