humbug

Spoto’s work is not fully dismissed, but he’s often thought of as something of an academic humbug.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

In a clever touch, Sphere lets us continue to see the monstrous green face, now neutered and ridiculous, mouth along as the panicked geek apologizes for being a humbug.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025

If holiday clutter has you more bah humbug than merry, these tips from professional organizers around Seattle might make your life easier before and after the holidays, and well into the new year.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023

However, far from feeling bah humbug about having to do their job while on holiday, they all love being able to take the stress and strain away from others.

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2022

Much of her lore was mere rubbish and humbug, nor did she know the true spells from the false.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

“He used these humbugs, as he called them, to create excitement and bring people in,” Wilson says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2026

Joined by his wife Katie, he plunges into another assignment, as he tries to get the "spirit of Christmas" back from the dastardly humbugs.

From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2024

In Poe’s lifetime, a handful of well-connected American scientists advanced plans to build national institutions to distinguish “real working men in the way of science” from charlatans, quacks, and humbugs.

From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2021

Heroic detective, pilot, poet, magician and victor over all bullies and humbugs, animal or human, Freddy remains a model to us all.

From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2020

Hagrid’s coat seemed to be made of nothing but pockets — bunches of keys, slug pellets, balls of string, peppermint humbugs, teabags ... finally, Harry pulled out a handful of strange-looking coins.

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

“Because,” he added, “Although I ain’t been in the city long, I ain’t to be humbugged; it won’t do for you to try to put off your confounded mock turtles on me!”

From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2018

The sooner America knows we are not going to be humbugged the better it is.

From Time Magazine Archive

P. T. Barnum recorded the fact that the American people delight in being humbugged, and such is still the national mood.

From Time Magazine Archive

I had humbugged myself into thinking I was on my way back to Australia.

From Tiny Luttrell by Ernest William Hornung

I might have humbugged them into waiting a minute or two.

From The House 'Round the Corner by Louis Tracy

Stranded in his "useless position" at Transport, Reith seethed while Churchill put together his "rotten" wartime coalition full of "humbugging and sycophantic" ministers.

From Time Magazine Archive

I’ll take precious care nobody don’t come the humbugging game over her.

From The Fatal Cord And The Falcon Rover by Mayne Reid

“One-fifty a month, and we can have a straight lease—no humbugging about clauses.”

From Polly in New York by Lillian Elizabeth Roy

“Oh, I was only humbugging, Haviland,” returned Jarnley, not in the least eager to make good his words.

From Haviland's Chum by Bertram Mitford

Indeed, we made two several attempts at knocking the island out of the water, each sufficiently distinct to have made any ordinary sailorman in his sane senses get snugly to sea without further humbugging.

From The Recipe for Diamonds by Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne