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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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humbug
IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024
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
Elizabeth Wolfe and Douglas S. Wood, CNN, 21 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for humbug
Noun
Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots.
—Verb
In its verb form, to be humbugged is to be deceived or be the victim of a hoax.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbug
Noun
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Trump has instead engaged in a clumsy cover-up, insisting that the files are both a fantastical hoax devised by his enemies and also too boring to even merit discussion.—
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Trump has called the affordability argument from Democrats a Democratic hoax.—
Noun
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That rule is nonsense — especially with two applicants who pretty clearly spend most of their time in Tallahassee, and two who work in Lakeland.—
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But the residency rule is nonsense.—
Noun
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The president and his allies accused Cook of mortgage fraud.—
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At the same briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt came out swinging at Minnesota Democrats in defense of the ICE agent while touting the Medicaid fraud investigation, which dates back to the Biden administration.—
Verb
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Don't be fooled by an ocean that looks calm.—
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To Newton, the saga was a reminder of how, in the age of increasingly sophisticated and accessible generative AI, anyone online can easily and quickly fool even the most discerning content consumers.—
Noun
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Court records show Walshe pleaded guilty in 2021 to wire fraud after selling counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings online.—
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Do carve out a spot for the Mongkok market, with its colorful juxtaposition of souvenirs, food, fashions — beware of counterfeits, though — with live fish and even birds.—
Noun
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The next slide showed a mouthwatering array of meats, cheeses, crudite and nuts set for snacking on, along with bottles of Haack's champagne line, Clé Cachée, chilling behind an array of glasses.—
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For instance, nuts, seeds, nut butters, and chocolate are more prone to oxidation, which can lead to rancid flavors or a gritty texture.—
Noun
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Both the pillow shams and bedding are made with a comfy cotton blend.—
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All of us know this is a sham and a shame.—
Verb
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The show’s original pair of fathers, who secretly trick their children into falling in love by pretending to be in a feud, will instead be mothers.—
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Fake pop-ups and lookalike websites are designed to trick people into typing usernames and passwords by hand.—
Cite this Entry
“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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