balderdash
Pure verbal garbage
Balderdash is nonsense or foolish talk—words that sound like they might mean something but don't hold up to scrutiny.
It's a mildly old-fashioned exclamation used to dismiss what someone has said as absurd or untrue: Balderdash! You don't know what you're talking about.
The word has a playful, theatrical quality that makes it less harsh than calling something bullshit but equally dismissive.
Foolish or meaningless talk
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
- drivelSenseless, silly talk
- codswallopBritish term for nonsense
- piffleTrivial, worthless nonsense
bunkum · tommyrot · bilge · bosh · hokum · folderol · rubbish · tripe
Nonsense or oat pudding
- gobbledygookPretentious unintelligible language
- jabberwockyNonsensical invented language
- moonshineIllegally distilled spirits
- fiddle-faddleTrivial nonsense or fussing
foofaraw · rigmarole · mumbo-jumbo · hocus-pocus · abracadabra · jiggery-pokery · flimflam · razzle-dazzle
Completely contrary to reason
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- ridiculousInviting scorn through absurdity
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
- outlandishStrikingly weird or foreign-seeming
farcical · laughable · inane · asinine · cockamamie · harebrained · crackpot · foolish
Expose as false
- refuteProve something untrue
- rejectDismiss as unsuitable
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- disproveProve something untrue
rebuff · scoff · pooh-pooh · brush off · wave away · call out · challenge · contradict
Deceiving about one's position
- definitionsStated meanings of terms
- guessingEstimating without certainty
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- party gameSocial gathering entertainment
cards · voting · deception · creativity · humor · dictionary · fake · imposter
poppycock
Foolish or meaningless talk
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
- drivelSenseless, silly talk
- codswallopBritish term for nonsense
piffle · bunkum · tommyrot · bilge · bosh · hokum · folderol · rubbish · tripe · garbage
flummery
Nonsense or oat pudding
- gobbledygookPretentious unintelligible language
- jabberwockyNonsensical invented language
- moonshineIllegally distilled spirits
fiddle-faddle · foofaraw · rigmarole · mumbo-jumbo · hocus-pocus · abracadabra · jiggery-pokery · flimflam · razzle-dazzle · hullabaloo
preposterous
Completely contrary to reason
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- ridiculousInviting scorn through absurdity
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
outlandish · farcical · laughable · inane · asinine · cockamamie · harebrained · crackpot · foolish · idiotic
debunk
Expose as false
disprove · rebuff · scoff · pooh-pooh · brush off · wave away · call out · challenge · contradict · expose
bluffing
Deceiving about one's position
- definitionsStated meanings of terms
- guessingEstimating without certainty
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
party game · cards · voting · deception · creativity · humor · dictionary · fake · imposter · scoring
- blatherbabble, baloney, blarney, blather, bunk
- empty talkidle talk, hot air, idle chatter, drivel, babble
- nonsensenonsense, absurd, gobbledegook, gobbledygook, ridiculous
- retro slanggroovy, far out, the bee's knees, neato, cool cat
- Whimsy Wordsgobbledygook, mumbo jumbo, hogwash, piffle, tommyrot
- Bunkbaloney, bosh, bunk, bunkum, codswallop
balderdashtruth
Accordance with reality
fact · reality · veracity · gospel truth · verity
balderdashsense
Perception or judgment
reason · logic · rationality · wisdom · good sense