puffery
- noun
- /ˈpʌfəri/
- Jargon
- Consumers often become skeptical of puffery when they realize the product does not meet its lofty promises.
This is very puffery and it is glistening like the sun.
- This is very puffery and it is glistening like the sun.
Examples
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Voters will embrace the opportunity to guide Illinoisans through the fog of puffery and propaganda to more trustworthy information.
Blog text (19) -
And no amount of media puffery is going to bring that magic back.
Blog text (32) -
If an explanation is offered, however, most often it's wrapped in political puffery.
Blog text (23) -
Indeed, it is the puffery of their bluster that forms the basis of their self-image.
Blog text (18) -
Or should we dismiss that statement as idle political puffery?
Blog text (17) -
Through puffery, Isabella tries to inflate the value of her character; and in this way, her actions mirror those of her brother, who exaggerates Catherine's financial worth to impress General Tilney.
Academic text (2009) -
The advertisement was filled with puffery, making unrealistic claims about the product's effectiveness.
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The sales pitch was nothing but puffery, designed to flatter the audience rather than convey true information.
Synonyms
Praise people give without meaning it to get something from someone
Too much praise that is not honest and meant to get approval
A lot of excited publicity to make people like or want something
A short text that praises something too much to help sell it
Flattering words that try to persuade someone but are not sincere
Making something seem better than it really is
A friendly compliment meant to persuade someone to do something
Empty praise and ceremony that try to impress without real value
Insincere praise used to try to influence someone
Smooth, pleasant speech that tries to trick people
Too much praise that tries to make people like you
Praise that is fake and meant to make someone like you or help you
Excessive praise that feels fake and forced
A lot of good things said about someone who does not deserve them
Antonyms
Saying something in a way that makes it seem less important, serious, or bad than it really is
How Exaggerated
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Puffery comes from the word puff meaning 'a short breath' or 'to blow' and the ending -ery that makes a noun. Think of praise that is 'puffed up' like air in a balloon and made bigger than it really is, so puffery means exaggerated, promotional praise not meant to be taken literally.