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Synonyms

potboiler

American  
[pot-boi-ler] / ˈpɒtˌbɔɪ lər /

noun

  1. a mediocre work of literature or art produced merely for financial gain.


potboiler British  
/ ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə /

noun

  1. informal a literary or artistic work of little merit produced quickly in order to make money

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of potboiler

First recorded in 1860–65; pot 1 + boiler

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:

Bradford’s potboiler hit in time to meet the “greed is good” ’80s, a decade when the wealth divide increased sharply and economic survival felt only slightly less Darwinian than it does today.

From Salon Jul. 19, 2026

And there's a cheeky riposte to their critics on the jazzy potboiler They Don't Know 'Bout Us: "You say we changed? We feel the same."

From BBC Mar. 20, 2026

A lurid tale of misadventure, moral bankruptcy and mean girls, “His & Hers” has other qualities, too, notably Tessa Thompson, whose recent turn in “Hedda” haunts her role in this potboiler.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 8, 2026

“Fox” has the bones of a potboiler but is supported by the sinew of the author’s elegant structure and syntax.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 16, 2025

Their stories were killed—they would have been an anti-climax to Keyhoe's potboiler.

From The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Edward J. Ruppelt

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