hokey

adjective

hok·​ey ˈhō-kē 

hokier; hokiest

1

: corny entry 1 sense 1

the usual hokey melodrama

2

: obviously contrived : phony

the plots are tricky but not hokey

—Cleveland Amory

hokeyness noun

or hokiness

ˈhō-kē-nəs 

hokily

ˈhō-kə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• corn-fed
• cornball
• cornpone
• corny

Examples of hokey in a Sentence

She gave us some hokey excuse for being late.

their father's sense of humor was hokey beyond belief and most people's endurance

Recent Examples on the Web

Contractual hokey cokey aside, Liverpool continue to fly despite having to rely on three early Christmas presents from Southampton’s extremely generous defence on Sunday — with Salah sparking the comeback when Alex McCarthy was caught hopelessly out of position (below). —Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024

But the hokey commercial unveiling allows Manfredi to gather his lovable crew, many of whom are featured in the spot, for a group hug at his house. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024

The other would become the crown jewel of the parade’s unabashedly hokey pageantry: its collection of majestic balloons, beginning with a two-story Felix the Cat in 1927. —Michael Callahan, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Bob and Linda put on a hokey haunted house for the kids, which Louise immediately brushes off. —Lillian Brown, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1