hoodoo

verb

hoodooed; hoodooing; hoodoos
Synonyms of hoodoonext

transitive verb

: to cast a spell on
broadly : to bring bad luck to

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoodoo was in 1858

Rhymes for hoodoo

See All Rhymes for hoodoo

Browse Nearby Words

Hood, Mount
hoodoo
hoodooism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hoodoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoodoo. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hoodoo

noun
hoo·​doo
ˈhüd-ü
plural hoodoos
1
: voodooism sense 1
2
: something that brings bad luck
hoodoo verb
hoodooism
-ˌiz-əm
noun
Etymology

perhaps an altered form of voodoo

More from Merriam-Webster on hoodoo

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hoodoo

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