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humbug Definition

hum·bug (humbug′)

noun

    1. something made or done to cheat or deceive; fraud; sham; hoax
    2. misleading, dishonest, or empty talk; nonsense
  1. a person who is not what he claims to be; impostor
  2. a spirit of trickery, deception, etc.
  3. Brit. a striped hard candy

Etymology: 18th-c. slang: orig. reference uncert.

transitive verb -·bugged′, -·bug′·ging

to dupe; deceive

nonsense

humbug Related Forms
hum·bug′·ger noun hum·bug′·gery noun
humbug Synonyms

humbug

n.

  1. Deception

    lie, fraud, hoax, sham; see deception 1, fake, nonsense.

  2. An impostor

    charlatan, imposter, fake, faker, phony*, quack*.

humbug Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • hate: But also because they hate humbug in all its forms.
  • feel: His view on religion was that organized worship made him feel'such a humbug ' .

Adjective modifier

  • old: You pompous, fussy old humbug, I'll kick the red cover off you!
  • pure: A Piece of Humbug The very name of " Birth Control " is a piece of pure humbug.
  • such: Such humbug should not be allowed to go unchallenged.
  • sanctimonious: Doubtless a few sanctimonious humbugs are preparing essays on evil even now.
  • sentimental: A vast amount of stuffy and sentimental humbug has been uttered in favor of the Gospel of Work.
  • mighty: High and mighty humbugs, who deal in big ideas, don't do those obvious things.

Noun used with modifier

  • bah: It's enough to make anyone feel bah humbug.
  • mint: Many people say they look like a mint humbug on legs.
humbug Quotes

The Social Contract is nothing more or less than a vast conspiracy of human beings to lie to and humbug themselves and one another for the general Good. Lies are the mortar that bind the savage individual man into the social masonry.

—Wells, H(erbert) G(eorge)

Browse dictionary entries near humbug

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