ballyhoo 1 of 2

noun

ˈba-lē-ˌhü How to pronounce ballyhoo (audio)
Definition of ballyhoonext
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

ballyhoo

2 of 2

verb

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

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2
as in to promote
to provide publicity for the TV networks usually spend the summer months ballyhooing their new fall shows

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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 ballyhoo
Noun
Reps also seemed to walk back Lawson’s earlier ballyhoo, floating the idea of projecting only conservation messages rather than symbols of corporate greed and ambition. — Mark Hay, Popular Science, 10 Dec. 2025 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. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
After being delayed for more than three weeks, the graduation of more than 80 sheriff cadets was finally allowed — and ballyhooed as the largest academy class in the agency’s history. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 16 July 2026 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. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ballyhoo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballyhoo
  1. commotion
  2. hype
  3. advertise
  4. promote
  5. disturbance
  6. publicity
  7. acclaim
  8. sell
Noun
  • In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • While the game lived up to the hype, the quarterbacks did not.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Geese had an atypical, if kind of old-fashioned, run on the hype train for a young rock band.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hype
Verb
  • DirecTV currently advertises a five-day free trial for its streaming TV plans.
    — Sophie Dunne, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The content off-platform used Johansson’s name and (AI) image to advertise adult content.
    — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of advertise
Verb
  • Both those historic actions happened as part of the Biden administration's focus on anti-money laundering and efforts to promote compliance with the then-emerging virtual currency industry.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • One of Mitte’s last posts on Instagram this week promoted those showings.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of promote
Noun
  • And in an unrelated incident on the morning of June 9, 2026, Jackson was arrested after Los Angeles police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his West Hills home late the previous night.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Jacobs was arrested May 26, three days after police officers came to his Wisconsin home to investigate a disturbance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • For a heavy metal band, this kind of publicity usually works in our favor.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Among the major exits are Kelly Caton, the senior director of series awards strategy and publicity, and director of entertainment communications Dominic Pagone.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of publicity
Verb
  • Over the past four decades, Harrison has carved out a stellar career across a number of literary forms, and has been acclaimed by such writers as Angela Carter, Deborah Levy, and Iain Banks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Yet its most acclaimed, and valuable, such set imagined a fictional conflict.
    — Bob Woods, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of acclaim
Verb
  • The company held a record-setting initial public offering in June, and Musk is not able to sell or trade the bulk of his stock until June 2027 because of lockup provisions.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts blame the brand’s reliance on Chuck Taylors and question whether Nike might sell it, though Nike says Converse remains an important part of its portfolio.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of sell

Browse Nearby Words

balls of wax
ballyhoo
ballyhooed
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Cite this Entry

“Ballyhoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballyhoo. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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