oomph

noun

ˈu̇m(p)f

Synonyms of oomph

: personal charm or magnetism : glamour

: sex appeal

: punch, vitality

Examples of oomph in a Sentence

The plot of the story lacks oomph. The truck doesn't have the oomph to haul the boat.

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.

But, Maura could use some more oomph in her style on the contemporary. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026 Callahan's deep baritone vocal was still nice and rich, while the kick drum that drives through much of the track still had plenty of oomph. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026 The character is written to be very likable and worthy of respect, and Jodie Whittaker brings a really effective extra oomph of warmth and humor to her performance that makes her consistent refusals to accept Kate’s proposals even more striking. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Advanced metrics suggest Dobbins isn’t even getting the yards he’s expected to, let alone generating extra oomph. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oomph

Word History

Etymology

imitative of a sound made under exertion

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of oomph was in 1930

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Oomph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oomph. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

oomph

noun

Synonyms of oomph

Examples of oomph in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Pyrrhic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes