trumpery Definition
- 1attractive articles of little value or use
- 2showy but worthless
- 3deceit or fraud
Using trumpery: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "trumpery" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The store was filled with trumpery items that nobody wanted to buy.
Example
The politician's promises were nothing but trumpery.
Example
She saw through his trumpery schemes and refused to be fooled.
Example
He was known for his love of trumpery jewelry.
trumpery Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using trumpery
all sound and fury, signifying nothing
a phrase used to describe something that appears impressive but is actually meaningless or worthless
Example
The politician's speech was all sound and fury, signifying nothing - it was just trumpery.
Example
The antique dealer tried to sell me a load of old trumpery, but I wasn't interested.
a phrase used to describe something that is showy but has no real substance or value
Example
The party decorations were all trumpery and tinsel, with no real thought put into them.
Phrases with trumpery
trumpery clothes
clothes that are showy but of poor quality
Example
She wore trumpery clothes to the party, hoping to impress everyone.
trumpery talk
speech that is intended to deceive or mislead
Example
The salesman's trumpery talk convinced many people to buy his product.
Example
The company's trumpery ideas failed to impress investors.
Origins of trumpery
from Middle English 'trumpen', meaning 'to deceive'
Summary: trumpery in Brief
The term 'trumpery' [ˈtrʌmpəri] refers to attractive but worthless items, often used to deceive or mislead. It can also denote deceit or fraud, as in 'The politician's promises were nothing but trumpery.' The phrase 'all sound and fury, signifying nothing' describes trumpery that appears impressive but is actually meaningless or worthless.
