claptrap
1 of 2noun
clap·trap ˈklap-ˌtrap 
: pretentious nonsense : trash
claptrap
2 of 2adjective
: characterized by or suggestive of claptrap
especially : of a cheap showy nature
claptrap sentiment
Synonyms
Noun
- applesauce [slang]
- balderdash
- baloney
- boloney
- beans
- bilge
- blah
- blah-blah
- blarney
- blather
- blatherskite
- blither
- bosh
- bull [slang]
- bunk
- bunkum
- buncombe
- codswallop [British]
- crapola [slang]
- crock
- drivel
- drool
- fiddle
- fiddle-faddle
- fiddlesticks
- flannel [British]
- flapdoodle
- folderol
- falderal
- folly
- foolishness
- fudge
- garbage
- guff
- hogwash
- hokeypokey
- hokum
- hoodoo
- hooey
- horsefeathers [slang]
- humbug
- humbuggery
- jazz
- malarkey
- malarky
- moonshine
- muck
- nerts [slang]
- nonsense
- nuts
- piffle
- poppycock
- punk
- rot
- rubbish
- senselessness
- silliness
- slush
- stupidity
- taradiddle
- tarradiddle
- tommyrot
- tosh
- trash
- trumpery
- twaddle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun His entire speech was nothing but claptrap. I'm tired of hearing all that claptrap about how hard her life is.
Recent Examples on the Web
Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 For all the claptrap Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have spouted about the filibuster facilitating bipartisan compromise, their opposition to eliminating it is most intelligible as a matter of material politics. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2022 Conspiracy claptrap inspired by right-wing radio hosts. Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2022 This is not some traditional sentimental claptrap about a family saying goodbye to the old homestead. Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 19 Mar. 2022 This is not just culture war claptrap about a heretofore obscure academic theory. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 23 June 2021 This is Spielberg at his most pure and sensational, an undiluted cinematic experience that lacks any of his sentimental claptrap and steers clear of his tendency for multiple endings. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2021 All this claptrap offends the romantic ethnicity being peddled, especially the tenor of Irish heritage that Branagh’s remote style misrepresents in nearly every scene. Armond White, National Review, 19 Nov. 2021 No outside controversial claptrap allowed during Our Time. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 May 2021 See More
Noun
These are the people, rather than the nation, to whom Truss is appealing with her tax-cutting claptrap. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 For all the claptrap Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have spouted about the filibuster facilitating bipartisan compromise, their opposition to eliminating it is most intelligible as a matter of material politics. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2022 Conspiracy claptrap inspired by right-wing radio hosts. Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2022 This is not some traditional sentimental claptrap about a family saying goodbye to the old homestead. Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 19 Mar. 2022 This is not just culture war claptrap about a heretofore obscure academic theory. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 23 June 2021 This is Spielberg at his most pure and sensational, an undiluted cinematic experience that lacks any of his sentimental claptrap and steers clear of his tendency for multiple endings. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2021 All this claptrap offends the romantic ethnicity being peddled, especially the tenor of Irish heritage that Branagh’s remote style misrepresents in nearly every scene. Armond White, National Review, 19 Nov. 2021 No outside controversial claptrap allowed during Our Time. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
clap entry 2; from its attempt to win applause
First Known Use
Noun
1799, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1815, in the meaning defined above
claptrap 1 of 2
noun
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense the idea that you can get a cold from not dressing warmly is claptrap Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- nonsense
- garbage
- rubbish
- nuts
- silliness
- stupidity
- blah
- twaddle
- drool
- guff
- hogwash
- hokum
- bunkum
- baloney
- bunk
- balderdash
- piffle
- muck
- poppycock
- jazz
- trash
- hooey
- tosh
- foolishness
- drivel
- craziness
- malarkey
- folderol
- blather
- flapdoodle
- codswallop
- trumpery
- humbuggery
- bilge
- blither
- tommyrot
- insanity
- beans
- crock
- crapola
- punk
- blatherskite
- bull
- malarky
- falderal
- rot
- madness
- blah-blah
- fudge
- fiddlesticks
- boloney
- fiddle
- bosh
- absurdity
- blarney
- humbug
- horsefeathers
- fiddle-faddle
- buncombe
- folly
- tarradiddle
- hoodoo
- idiocy
- nerts
- taradiddle
- applesauce
- senselessness
- flannel
- absurdness
- moonshine
- inanity
- hokeypokey
- greek
- tomfoolery
- slush
- lunacy
- imbecility
- foolery
- kookiness
- rigmarole
- asininity
- gas
- fatuity
- witlessness
- inaneness
- monkey business
- rigamarole
- shenanigan(s)
- hoity-toity
- hocus-pocus
- hot air
- monkeyshine(s)
- double-talk
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rationality
- sensibleness
- reasonableness
- sense
- reasonability
- wisdom
- horse sense
- levelheadedness
- judgement
- judgment
- discernment
- common sense
claptrap
2 of 2adjective
as in hypocritical
Synonyms & Similar Words
- hypocritical
- mechanical
- contrived
- phony
- insincere
- meaningless
- phony-baloney
- unctuous
- hollow
- phoney-baloney
- mealymouthed
- assumed
- unnatural
- jive
- phoney
- backhanded
- simulated
- fake
- counterfeit
- artificial
- deceitful
- lip
- dishonest
- put-on
- strained
- double
- mealy
- pretended
- glib
- feigned
- untruthful
- affected
- superficial
- forced
- bogus
- facile
- two-faced
- double-dealing
- sham
- sanctimonious
- empty
- false
- devious
- double-faced
- Janus-faced
- Pecksniffian
- pious
- facetious
- campy
- pharisaical
- jocular
- left-handed
- self-righteous
- canting
- tongue-in-cheek
- simon-pure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- artless
- genuine
- sincere
- heartfelt
- honest
- candid
- unfeigned
- plain
- direct
- undesigning
- forthright
- straightforward
- open
- frank
- heart-to-heart