humbug 1 of 2

noun

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

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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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humbug

2 of 2

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

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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
Well then, the author cannot be blamed for what might be called the worldwide humbug over the robots. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2024 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
  1. hoax
  2. nonsense
  3. fraud
  4. fool
  5. counterfeit
  6. nuts
  7. sham
  8. trick
Noun
  • This is not a hoax, this is a group of concerned citizens.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • When an apparent white supremacist bomb threat was called (later determined to be a hoax), police officers instructed protesters to exit the building.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • Just ask anyone who's watched an AI confidently spit out nonsense—or worse.
    — Bob Ras, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • While Drop, clocking in at an economical 93 minutes, may sound like fun and games, there’s something deeper and more human at its core than mindless nonsense.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • The panel also agreed Way acted with malice, oppression or fraud, and awarded her another $250,000 in punitive damages.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Robinson faces five felonies: concealment of a death, identity theft, two counts of financial card theft, financial card fraud and car theft.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • That attempt was soon fooled by sloppy play in the neutral zone that gave Brad Marchand a short-handed opportunity.
    — Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Then, as if anyone was fooled, the talk show host pulled off his hat, wig and snap-on nose and lip piercings and Sheeran pulled of his wig to reveal his signature carrot top to shouts of joy.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of fool
Noun
  • Amazon uses artificial intelligence and other technology to continuously monitor listings on its site for potential counterfeits and non-compliant products.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The order notes that the exception could be used to bring in counterfeits or drugs.
    — Joseph Lawler, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Feb. 2025
Definition of counterfeit
Noun
  • Use it to find and retrieve stray nuts or bolts in any crevice.
    — Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Incorporate it into mac and cheese for a creamy, nutty complement to Cheddar and Colby Jack, grate it on a box grater to add to pizza, or serve it alongside fruit and nuts on a charcuterie board.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • There are plenty of superhero properties out there that fall into the trap of having their antagonists do something heinous to prove that their otherwise just reasons are a sham, but surely in this case, if Maximus (Iwan Rheon) hadn’t staged a coup, another of the Inhuman subjects would’ve. 23.
    — Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The sunny set includes a quilt in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king sizes and matching shams to create a cohesive look in your space.
    — Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of sham
Verb
  • Be Wary of Phishing Emails and Texts After a breach, scammers may impersonate the affected company to trick you into clicking malicious links.
    — Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • She was tricked by the very devilish Zeus, who broke his way into many marriages.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of trick

Browse Nearby Words

humbly
humbug
humbugged
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Cite this Entry

“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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