balderdash
Americannoun
-
senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense.
-
Obsolete. a muddled mixture of liquors.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of balderdash
First recorded in 1590–1600; of obscure origin
Explanation
Balderdash is something said or written that doesn't make sense, such as a ridiculous claim or a bad argument. In other words, it's complete and utter nonsense. Balderdash is a fun, somewhat old-fashioned term for "nonsense" or "rubbish." It carries a British, slightly theatrical overtone, and is best used in a light-hearted way for trivial matters. Calling someone's argument "balderdash" feels more like a playful rebuke than a harsh insult. Save weightier terms like fallacy or misinformation for important or professional disputes, as serious concerns deserve a more serious word than balderdash.
Vocabulary lists containing balderdash
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Slaughterhouse-Five
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Not Nothing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Or in his own words - spat out in a Yorkshire growl - "bunkum and balderdash".
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2023
But despite “I Want You Back’s” heaping helping of the usual rom-com balderdash, both Slate and Day provide enough underdog charisma to make us root for their characters, if not their wrongheaded quests.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2022
For Mr. Merrill of Harrison Street, the romanticization of remote work is balderdash.
From New York Times ● Nov. 12, 2021
What is melting away is the patience of climate scientists and other experts when confronted with action-delaying balderdash.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 16, 2021
In other words, a person full of balderdash.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
A freezing vintner; a vintner who balderdashes his wine.
From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Grose, Francis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
