as in hype
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause the newspaper's local stories are often thinly disguised puffery for area businesses

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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 puffery This is where the focused music hall puffery of the production helps. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024 That conclusion may sound preposterously quaint to some, unwelcome advice to a few, ridiculous puffery or an impossible goal to still others. David Baldacci, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024 Most mentions of Florida were mere puffery, with little indication of what DeSantis intends to accomplish. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2024 When the subject is not the movies but matters of the Middle East, the consequences of this sleight of hand are far graver than some dubious promotional puffery. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for puffery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffery
Noun
  • In what has been a strange season for Ferrari, its form swinging around the hype over Hamilton’s arrival to inevitable scrutiny, Leclerc’s magic lap for pole here will stand out as a moment to savor.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Lauter himself isn’t exactly pushing away the hype.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • To help get publicity for the show, Peter Crooks — a local journalist with Diablo magazine — was pitched to write a feature story on Butler, the P.I. Moms and their upcoming series.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 23 July 2025
  • The publicity of the Patz case also helped initiate better communication between law enforcement agencies to have a wider, more comprehensive search effort when children are reported missing.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • This sudden move is shaking up the digital advertising landscape.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Gluck suggested that a fashion label had not made a similar defense since years-old copyright dispute between the street artist Revok and H&M over one of the Swedish conglomerate’s advertising campaigns.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The disclosure comes as the Euphoria star faces intense scrutiny over her recent American Eagle advertisement, which has sparked accusations of racist messaging and drawn defense from White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Aug. 2025
  • An American Eagle advertisement campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney has ignited a fiery debate, drawing reactions from social media users, celebrities and even the White House.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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