Malarkey

Malarkey, often used humorously or dismissively, refers to meaningless talk, deceptive language, or foolish or nonsensical behavior. It suggests an attempt to mislead, confuse, or distract, often through exaggeration or empty rhetoric. Essentially, it is considered insincere or dishonest, lacking substance or truth. The word implies a level of playful awareness from the speaker, a light-hearted acknowledgement that something is not genuine or to be taken seriously. This term typically calls the bluff of those using it in conversation and often used as a tool to cut through the superficial. It can be applied to various contexts, including political speeches, sales pitches, or personal conversations.

Malarkey meaning with examples

• The politician's promises of lower taxes and increased benefits seemed like nothing more than malarkey to many voters. They'd heard it all before, and the proposed plans lacked sufficient detail. The constant flip-flopping on policy and blatant contradictions were easily identified as empty words, and the population had become fatigued by it.
• After trying to sell me a used car, the salesman's exaggerated claims about its fuel efficiency sounded like pure malarkey. I'd done my research. The car needed far too much work for the asking price, and I called him out on it, prompting him to try and sell me a different, more costly vehicle.
• During their argument, Sarah dismissed John's explanation of why he was late as complete malarkey. His excuses were far-fetched and didn't align with the facts. Her eyes rolled, as she expressed her disgust at what she considered a complete fabrication, dismissing it as an attempt to cover the truth.
• The online article promoting a miracle weight-loss pill was filled with malarkey. The testimonials seemed fake, and the scientific evidence was non-existent. The lack of substance within the article gave it a completely unreliable appearance, thus discouraging the sale and use of their product.