red herring

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.

In the case of the drone story, I was naturally thinking of rival news outlets that keep dangling the alien-visitation red herring in front of their readers because it generates clicks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Hard, however, because the claim is a red herring.

From Slate • May 26, 2026

Filip explained how the damage initially sent him off on a red herring.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

“The childish scribbling handwriting is also a red herring for some of the more serious and sinister themes in the book, “ says Cash.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Or do you suppose this is a red herring and that the abandonment of the gold standard is at the root of the matter?'

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro