Thesaurus results for PUFFERY

puffery

noun

ˈpə-f(ə-)rē

Definition of puffery

as in hype

information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause the newspaper's local stories are often thinly disguised puffery for area businesses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 puffery But management also decided against trying to brag about these network-level changes with new status-bar icons or other sorts of customer-experience puffery. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026 Vendor puffery may also be legal, but that means the IT customer needs a healthy skepticism of the typically too-good-to-be-true promises vendors make. — IEEE Spectrum, 23 Nov. 2025 The defendants have been described by one defense lawyer as being video gamers and recreational gun enthusiasts who were engaged in puffery, nothing else. — Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025 Which is why, having failed to stop the coming spending cuts with preening puffery and shameless dishonesty, defenders of taxpayer dollars for public media have pulled out the last tool out of their political toolbox. — Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for puffery

Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffery

Noun

San Francisco is often characterized by its hype and unbridled enthusiasm around AI, but Frosst says there’s an openness to friendly debate in Toronto that feels unique.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Like several of the prospects acquired, the production hasn’t yet matched the hype.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of hype

Noun

Jeff Hiller’s surprise Supporting Actor in a Comedy win for Somebody Somewhere was the best publicity that show ever got, all from just one award.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2026
Getting singled out by Sacha Baron Cohen‘s most infamous character turned out to be good publicity, not an insult, for Ed Sheeran.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of publicity

Noun

Artists Equity, which Affleck founded with Matt Damon and RedBird Capital’s Gerry Cardinale, had leaned hard into advertising and brand work to complement its film and TV business.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Monster Energy acquired Bang in 2023 for $362 million in a deal that also resolved a lawsuit Monster had filed alleging false advertising and trademark infringement by its former rival.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of advertising

Noun

California Senate Bill 646 mandates that specific levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury must be published openly on each brand’s website while packages and advertisements must clearly state how heavy metal testing is done.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
The advertisement was done and presented in poor taste and the public didn't receive it well.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of advertisement

Browse Nearby Words

puffed (up)

puffery

puffing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of puffery

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes