potboiler

[ pot-boi-ler ]

noun

1. a mediocre work of literature or art produced merely for financial gain.

potboiler

/ ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə /

noun

1. informal.
   a literary or artistic work of little merit produced quickly in order to make money

Word History and Origins

Origin of potboiler¹

First recorded in 1860–65; pot ¹ + boiler

Example Sentences

TV audiences today may recognize him as Senator Edson Davis in the demented ABC political potboiler, Scandal.

From The Daily Beast

For fans of the HBO potboiler True Detective, the opening montage is all-too-familiar.

From The Daily Beast

I went into the house to fetch the required sum, and, by some means I cannot explain, got to work again upon the latest potboiler.

From Project Gutenberg

That odious Milord Potboiler amuses himself by making poor Theodore hide in my dressing-room and stand there half the day.

From Project Gutenberg

Fanny's First Play, being but a potboiler, needs no preface.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adventure
• anecdote
• article
• autobiography
• biography
• book
• comedy
• description
• drama
• fable
• fantasy
• feature
• fiction
• history
• information
• legend
• memoir
• myth
• narrative
• novel