Tuesday word: Hornswoggle
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1word1dayTuesday, June 24, 2025
Hornswoggle (verb)
hornswoggle [hawrn-swog-uhl]
verb (used with object), Slang., hornswoggled, hornswoggling
1. to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
When To Use
Where does hornswoggle come from?
Hornswoggle, as noted in our definition above, means "to swindle, cheat, or hoax." But, it would be cheating for us to say we know where hornswoggle comes from exactly. Its earliest known appearance so far is in the U.S. around 1815–25. Is hornswoggle supposed to sound like some hullabaloo from some sort of trumpet? Did a hog get all washed up? Well, sometimes nonsense words are just that—nonsense. Ultimately, hornswoggle is probably just a fanciful, funny formation.
Origin: 1815–25 origin uncertain
Example Sentences
He continues: “Down the road, it’ll be just one more instance when voters thought they were doing the right thing and they were hornswoggled. It fuels cynicism and bitterness and mistrust in government.”
From Los Angeles Times
His ability to hornswoggle tens of millions of voters is no laughing matter.
From Washington Post
Or, had President Trump hornswoggled multiple Congressional leaders, hundreds of Congressional Republicans and key players in his administration into believing he would sign this particular package?
From Fox News
Here are some things you can do afterward to see if you’ve been hornswoggled: Check the font of the logo.
From Golf Digest
The only sensible conclusion from all of this is that the superrich will settle, plead or hornswoggle their way out of any attempt to cancel their status.
From Washington Post
Hornswoggle (verb)
hornswoggle [hawrn-swog-uhl]
verb (used with object), Slang., hornswoggled, hornswoggling
1. to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
When To Use
Where does hornswoggle come from?
Hornswoggle, as noted in our definition above, means "to swindle, cheat, or hoax." But, it would be cheating for us to say we know where hornswoggle comes from exactly. Its earliest known appearance so far is in the U.S. around 1815–25. Is hornswoggle supposed to sound like some hullabaloo from some sort of trumpet? Did a hog get all washed up? Well, sometimes nonsense words are just that—nonsense. Ultimately, hornswoggle is probably just a fanciful, funny formation.
Origin: 1815–25 origin uncertain
Example Sentences
He continues: “Down the road, it’ll be just one more instance when voters thought they were doing the right thing and they were hornswoggled. It fuels cynicism and bitterness and mistrust in government.”
From Los Angeles Times
His ability to hornswoggle tens of millions of voters is no laughing matter.
From Washington Post
Or, had President Trump hornswoggled multiple Congressional leaders, hundreds of Congressional Republicans and key players in his administration into believing he would sign this particular package?
From Fox News
Here are some things you can do afterward to see if you’ve been hornswoggled: Check the font of the logo.
From Golf Digest
The only sensible conclusion from all of this is that the superrich will settle, plead or hornswoggle their way out of any attempt to cancel their status.
From Washington Post
