balderdash
Americannoun
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senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense.
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Obsolete. a muddled mixture of liquors.
noun
Etymology
Origin of balderdash
First recorded in 1590–1600; of obscure origin
Explanation
Balderdash is something said or written that doesn't make sense, such as a ridiculous claim or a bad argument. In other words, it's complete and utter nonsense. Balderdash is a fun, somewhat old-fashioned term for "nonsense" or "rubbish." It carries a British, slightly theatrical overtone, and is best used in a light-hearted way for trivial matters. Calling someone's argument "balderdash" feels more like a playful rebuke than a harsh insult. Save weightier terms like fallacy or misinformation for important or professional disputes, as serious concerns deserve a more serious word than balderdash.
Vocabulary lists containing balderdash
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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Slaughterhouse-Five
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Not Nothing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rasmussen’s promotion of its vaccine-related balderdash is replete with weasel words, as if the firm is opting for plausible deniability.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2024
Declaring himself a victim is not just hyperbole or balderdash.
From Washington Post • Aug. 9, 2022
For Mr. Merrill of Harrison Street, the romanticization of remote work is balderdash.
From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2021
The creators could have used the word hooey or baloney or balderdash.
From Washington Times • Sep. 23, 2020
He made the inside of poor Billy’s skull echo with balderdash.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
