fudge

1 of 2

verb

ˈfəj 

fudged; fudging

transitive verb

1

a

: to devise as a substitute : fake

b

: falsify

fudged the figures

2

: to fail to come to grips with : dodge

fudged the issue

intransitive verb

1

: to exceed the proper bounds or limits of something

feel that the author has fudged a little on the … rules for crime fiction

—Newsweek

also : cheat

fudging on an exam

2

: to fail to perform as expected

3

: to avoid commitment : hedge

the government's tendency to fudge on delicate matters of policy

—Claire Sterling

fudge

2 of 2

noun

1

: foolish nonsense

—often used interjectionally to express annoyance, disappointment, or disbelief

2

: a soft creamy candy made typically of sugar, milk, butter, and flavoring

3

: something that is fudged

especially : a bending of rules or a compromise

Synonyms

Verb

• equivocate
• hedge
• pussyfoot
• tergiversate
• waffle
• weasel

Noun

• applesauce [slang]
• balderdash
• baloney
• boloney
• beans
• bilge
• blah
• blah-blah
• blarney
• blather
• blatherskite
• blither
• bosh
• bull [slang]
• bunk
• bunkum
• buncombe
• claptrap
• codswallop [British]
• crapola [slang]
• crock
• drivel
• drool
• fiddle
• fiddle-faddle
• fiddlesticks
• flannel [British]
• flapdoodle
• folderol
• falderal
• folly
• foolishness
• 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

Examples of fudge in a Sentence

Verb

Politicians have been known to fudge the issues.

The treasurer fudged the figures.

It was later discovered that the researchers had fudged their data.

Noun

We bought three kinds of fudge.

His response to these charges has been a series of denials and fudges.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Over the course of those 90 minutes (which the film, with a run time of 1 hour and 49 minutes, fudges a bit) whatever can go wrong already has, will, or is in the process of going wrong, swirling around the preternaturally calm eye of the storm, Lorne. —Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 4 Oct. 2024

Union leaders, meanwhile, accused the company of fudging the numbers. —Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024

Noun

The nose features caramel, dark chocolate, toffee fudge, dates, fig jam, charred oak, and old leather. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

For older guests, the painting classes and fudge and wine tasting are must-dos. —Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1674, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fudge

• fudge factor
• hot fudge
• hot fudge sauce
• hot fudge sundae

Kids Definition

fudge

1 of 2 verb

ˈfəj 

fudged; fudging

1

: to change (something) in order to trick people

fudged the figures

2

: to avoid being open or direct : hedge

politicians fudging on the issues

fudge

2 of 2 noun

1

: foolish nonsense

2

: a soft creamy candy made typically of milk, sugar, butter, and flavoring