variants
or buncombe
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
a cinematic depiction of the Middle Ages that was derided as pure bunkum by historians
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 bunkum
Putting aside the junk peddling, how much of Madoff’s and Trump’s bunkum do they themselves (for Madoff, did) believe to be true?
—
Richard Behar, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
As generative AI is integrated into common search engines and voters converse with chatbots, people seeking basic information about elections have at times been met with misinformation, pure bunkum, or links to fringe websites.
—Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Nevertheless, anti-vaccine bunkum has clearly metastasized to our furry companions.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 30 Aug. 2023
And in the ultimate exemplification of how an endless stream of content begets pernicious bunkum, John McPhail’s Dear David is arguably the most brainless release of the year.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 5 Dec. 2023
Brightly lit and filled to their Botox gills with aspirational bunkum, the shows require little by way of mental engagement.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2023
Behind the image was a fair bit of bunkum.
—James Gleick, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2021
The Telegraph's article immediately drew sharp responses from other journalists, who dismissed the report as bunkum.
—Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 15 Mar. 2010
Unfortunately, but somewhat predictably, the press has fallen for Bukele’s bunkum hook, line, and sinker.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 18 Sep. 2021
Richard Behar, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
As generative AI is integrated into common search engines and voters converse with chatbots, people seeking basic information about elections have at times been met with misinformation, pure bunkum, or links to fringe websites.
—Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Nevertheless, anti-vaccine bunkum has clearly metastasized to our furry companions.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 30 Aug. 2023
And in the ultimate exemplification of how an endless stream of content begets pernicious bunkum, John McPhail’s Dear David is arguably the most brainless release of the year.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 5 Dec. 2023
Brightly lit and filled to their Botox gills with aspirational bunkum, the shows require little by way of mental engagement.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2023
Behind the image was a fair bit of bunkum.
—James Gleick, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2021
The Telegraph's article immediately drew sharp responses from other journalists, who dismissed the report as bunkum.
—Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 15 Mar. 2010
Unfortunately, but somewhat predictably, the press has fallen for Bukele’s bunkum hook, line, and sinker.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 18 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bunkum
Noun
-
The art world, like the artwork itself, exists in a delicate balance of elitism and absurdity, meaning and nonsense.Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
-
The basic idea here is that Vince Vaughn is doing his mid-aughts-dirtbag Vince Vaughn thing but on Christmas — a premise that’s laid on a foundation of plausible-sounding nonsense.Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The juvenile was white with brownish brindle patches around each eye and found in a garbage bag.Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Dec. 2024
-
While Dogtown's hot dog menu is immense, Basile said garbage plates are always a top seller.Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Kennedy has elevated threats to the livelihoods of scientists who have resisted his brand of balderdash from the implicit to the explicit.Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2024
-
While schools do exist in rough tiers of selectivity, size, excellence, prestige and so forth, the idea of precise rankings is balderdash.David M. Perry, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022
Noun
-
Navalny’s memoir deftly exposes the infinite vices in the current Russian government that rewards venality, cowardice and stupidity but punishes integrity, brains and the courage to speak truth to power.Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 Nov. 2024
-
That may not be a huge sum of money in a county with an annual operating budget of nearly $5 billion, but it’s got to rank high in sheer stupidity or at least neglect.Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Some of the biggest peddlers of drone hokum have been elected officials.Noah Shachtman, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
-
Trying this out is part of coffee testing's scientific method, but the insistence on 175 degrees also read like marketing hokum.Joe Ray, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2019
Noun
-
The Reynolds administration has been something of a one-stop shop for this kind hogwash that’s blind to the consequences of loosening child labor laws.Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2023
-
And any mention of the actor and composer as porcines of interest would be pure hogwash.Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2023
Noun
-
Many Red Sox fans have had it up to here with that building-for-the-future claptrap, so much so that expectations were scary low coming into the 2024 season.Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 31 July 2024
-
Is there a remedy for claptrap like the BMJ article?Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024
Noun
-
Buckingham Palace simply couldn’t abide someone in its circle saying poppycock.Vulture, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2023
-
This is, as Raymond Reddington might say, utter poppycock.Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2023
Articles Related to bunkum
Thesaurus Entries Near bunkum
Cite this Entry
“Bunkum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bunkum. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share