What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hucksterism
Example
The company's hucksterism tactics included misleading advertisements and high-pressure sales pitches. [hucksterism: noun]
Example
The salesman's hucksterism was so blatant that I didn't trust anything he said. [hucksterism: noun]
puffery
Example
The advertisement used puffery to make the product seem like a miracle cure. [puffery: noun]
Example
The company's website was full of puffery, making it difficult to discern the actual benefits of their product. [puffery: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Puffery is more commonly used than hucksterism in everyday language. Puffery is a common advertising technique used to promote products and services, while hucksterism is less common and is generally associated with unethical business practices.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hucksterism and puffery?
Both hucksterism and puffery are informal terms and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.