• Hokey

    Pronunciation

    • USRhymes: -əʊki

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    From the verb hoke ("to give an artificial feel to"), from hokum.

    Full definition of hokey

    Adjective

    hokey

    1. (US, colloquial) phony, as if a hoax; noticeably contrived; of obviously flimsy credibility or quality
      • When asked for his book report, Chad came up a series of hokier and hokier excuses, until he finally admitted that he hadn’t done it at all.
      • I thought the bargain-priced windshield wiper blades were a little hokey when I saw their cheap packaging, but when they flew off the end of the wiper during a rainstorm, I knew for sure.
    2. (US, colloquial) corny; overly or unbelievably sentimental
      • Terry hated going to the cinema with Pat, as Pat always chose hokey romantic comedies that made Terry want to gag.

    Synonyms

    Related terms

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