malarkey

noun

ma·​lar·​key mə-ˈlär-kē How to pronounce malarkey (audio)
variants or less commonly malarky
Synonyms of malarkey
: insincere or foolish talk : bunkum
He thinks that everything politicians say is a bunch of malarkey.

Synonyms of malarkey

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Examples of malarkey in a Sentence

He thinks everything politicians say is just a bunch of malarkey. the old lady declared that everything politicians say is pure malarkey
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
None of that naloxone up the schnozz and a quick 911 call malarkey here, kids. — Henry Everingham, SPIN, 17 Oct. 2024 The play strengthens in the second act, which is a combination of exquisite action and narrative malarkey. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026 There’s novelty but not much else with this musical about two vaudevillian sisters who hoof it to Broadway and find showtunes, out-of-nowhere story interludes that don’t fit and a ton of romantic malarkey. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 Behind the Nissan Leaf, a driver of an Audi was having none of this careful robot driving malarkey and overtook us both at speed and clearly with some frustration. — Carlton Reid, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malarkey

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of malarkey was in 1923

Rhymes for malarkey

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Browse Nearby Words

malariometric
malarkey
malar point
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Cite this Entry

“Malarkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malarkey. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on malarkey

Nglish: Translation of malarkey for Spanish Speakers

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