1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
it turned out that the ballyhoo was the result of a movie being filmed on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hype
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause
the usual ballyhoo intended to fill the seats at megaplexes around the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to advertise
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
that reviewer always ballyhoos any book by one of his pet authors
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to promote
to provide publicity for
the TV networks usually spend the summer months ballyhooing their new fall shows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballyhoo
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The whole 50th ballyhoo led up to an all-star three-plus hour anniversary show that premiered Sunday (naturally), February 16.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 9 Aug. 2025
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
Nuclear energy was ballyhooed back in the 1930s as a way to feed the world.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballyhoo
Noun
The chefs have clearly helped Miami diners expand their palates, serving unusual dishes that could potentially make diners uneasy, like the ballyhoo, which Martinez said should return to the menu once the season starts in a few weeks.
—Verb
And Jennifer Maas previews The Game Awards to explain how the event has grown into the Oscars for video games by blending kudos and ballyhoo.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballyhoo
Noun
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During the commotion, the agent’s shaky cellphone video shows houses along the street and views of the sky.—
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In the heat of the moment, though, Certa was clearly walking after one of the officials, but Shrewsberry came barreling in as the official turned around to see the commotion.—
Noun
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The fuzzy shearling interior and buttery soft suede outer is worth all the hype, and the chestnut hue goes with legit everything.—
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The draft discussion around Manning never quite matched the hype heights typically scaled by the top quarterbacks in the class.—
Verb
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And the Wave For 2 is currently advertised for a sale price of US$139,950 from Sunshine State RVs, a dealership that's on hand at the Florida RV Supershow debut.—
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Google Cloud is advertising its own event aimed at helping Chinese firms expand globally, with a rare building-sized poster on the facade of a hotel overlooking downtown Beijing’s main thoroughfare.—
Verb
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Still, the district put full faith in its current coaches, promoting from within.—
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The series is part of the theater's efforts to promote accessible, affordable arts programs for the Aurora community.—
Noun
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In 2021, the California Coastal Commission said the display should be moved from La Jolla Cove, citing potential disturbance of sea lions at Point La Jolla and a failure of organizers to secure necessary permitting in time.—
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Fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, appetite changes and social withdrawal are also red flags, in addition to thoughts about dying or suicidal ideations.—
Noun
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The show and its publicity tour have dominated social media feeds, group text chats, and even made their way into the conversation on Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.—
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Rivera is demanding $16 million from the ‘DtMF’ rapper and his record label, Rimas Entertainment, for violating her privacy and publicity rights, Rolling Stone and Billboard reported.—
Verb
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The series was critically acclaimed and earned multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Wyle, and Outstanding Drama Series.—
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Best friends Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald founded the bakery acclaimed for its large cookie offerings.—
Verb
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But more than specific features and fixtures, the idea of wellness is becoming a big bathroom selling point.—
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Versatile bags are marked down as well, including a nano version of the best-selling Everywhere Belt Bag that’s now half off.—
Cite this Entry
“Ballyhoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballyhoo. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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