humbuggery

[ huhm-buhg-uh-ree ]

noun

1. pretense; sham.

Word History and Origins

Origin of humbuggery¹

First recorded in 1825–35; humbug + -ery

Example Sentences

There are no optimistic contrasts in mood to Scrooge’s stubborn humbuggery.

From Salon

Of course, the scouse Spielberg could legitimately argue that such “bah humbuggery” is ridiculously over the top as it’s not every day you get to capture your part in such a special and rare occasion on film, but even the crushingly mundane has become apparently essential viewing.

From The Guardian

The Jackassonian Democrat, as the college kids called their version, featured white-hooded figures holding flaming crosses on the masthead and page after page of ersatz local gossip and rural humbuggery.

From The New Yorker

Finally, I loved Laura Bennett’s in-detail look at whether Jonathan Franzen’s latest sex scenes are a bunch of humbuggery, even if I fiercely disagreed with some of her assessments.

From Slate

“The humbuggery of the article,” he wrote, “was entirely lost.”

From Newsweek