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

Anchored by its intricate sound design, which expertly blends score, diegetic sound and the thoughtful use of aural perspective, the series rejects potboiler rhythms in favor of a foreboding psychological chill.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms. Conran was already a household name in England when she set out to write a sex guide for schoolgirls, but ended up writing the potboiler that was “Lace.”

From New York Times

In that potboiler, a film he later disavowed as too tame, he was publicized as the first Black matinee idol for mainstream audiences.

From Washington Post

In modern music circles, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and this notorious potboiler, in particular, was to be avoided at all costs throughout much of the 20th century.

From Los Angeles Times

Pseudonyms aside, there is no evidence that he was embarrassed about writing mass-market potboilers to pad his bank account.

From New York Times

Related Words

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