barker

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.

McLuhan was seen as more of a carnival barker than a scholar, and people—clearly—didn’t heed his warnings about technology.

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2025

As such, when many people talk about "struggle meals," especially online, it's often with a kind of carnival barker mentality, touting promises of the bizarre.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2023

On the sidewalk, a barker urged passers-by to take a look.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2022

It’s a carnival barker promising a werewolf boy, a woman with four legs, fleas that can rotate a Ferris wheel, a pizza bowl without crust.

From Washington Post • Sep. 1, 2022

“Lookit this ’ere boy!” he shouted, like he was a barker at the county fair and me the prize pig.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns