Definition of pufferynext
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

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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 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
  • The Vikings signed Price as an undrafted free agent in 2025 with minimal hype.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, the Horned Frogs fell to UNC 15-10, joined a growing list of teams that entered the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin with plenty of hype only to endure what could be a season-defining loss.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
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
Noun
  • The campaign extended through radio, bookstores, coffee shops, cinema advertising and Bucharest’s metro network.
    Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The regulatory responsibilities surrounding healthcare advertising add another consideration.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Puffery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffery. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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