as in hobby
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure
oil painting became the hobbyhorse of her long years of retirement
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Recent Examples of hobbyhorse
Throw these men off their hobbyhorses, off the tracks of their discourse.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
Never mind the crime issue or that favorite Trumpian hobbyhorse, immigration and the border.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
Riding clubs and hobbyhorse camps foster those close connections.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024
In part that’s because, to climb back on an old hobbyhorse of mine, platforms are still too stingy with the data that might help researchers understand them better.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 24 May 2023
Nor does the Trooper seem to hobbyhorse longitudinally or wobble laterally while running straight on some surfaces, as the S-10 Blazer sometimes does.
—Pete Lyons, Car and Driver, 26 Mar. 2023
The short-wheelbase Suzuki hobbyhorses over these rhythmic disturbances and sets your guts a-bouncing.
—Kevin Smith, Car and Driver, 4 Mar. 2023
This is a hobbyhorse of Washington progressives, both because federal jurisdiction over gun crimes hinges on their movement in interstate commerce, and because bloviating about guns is more palatable than addressing who exactly is using guns illegally, a third rail in Democratic Party politics.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Feb. 2022
Most of the criticism is baseless tripe hatched to advance Trump or some other Fox News hobbyhorse, though there have been plenty of legitimate reasons to bash MSNBC and CNN over the years.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 19 July 2022
James Parker, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
Never mind the crime issue or that favorite Trumpian hobbyhorse, immigration and the border.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
Riding clubs and hobbyhorse camps foster those close connections.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2024
In part that’s because, to climb back on an old hobbyhorse of mine, platforms are still too stingy with the data that might help researchers understand them better.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 24 May 2023
Nor does the Trooper seem to hobbyhorse longitudinally or wobble laterally while running straight on some surfaces, as the S-10 Blazer sometimes does.
—Pete Lyons, Car and Driver, 26 Mar. 2023
The short-wheelbase Suzuki hobbyhorses over these rhythmic disturbances and sets your guts a-bouncing.
—Kevin Smith, Car and Driver, 4 Mar. 2023
This is a hobbyhorse of Washington progressives, both because federal jurisdiction over gun crimes hinges on their movement in interstate commerce, and because bloviating about guns is more palatable than addressing who exactly is using guns illegally, a third rail in Democratic Party politics.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Feb. 2022
Most of the criticism is baseless tripe hatched to advance Trump or some other Fox News hobbyhorse, though there have been plenty of legitimate reasons to bash MSNBC and CNN over the years.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 19 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobbyhorse
Noun
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Golf wasn’t just a hobby for Richard Berle growing up.—
Michael LoRé,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Every Glimpse Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Have Shared Into Life with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet The fruit-picking photo may hint that Meghan's children are helping her with her hobby of jam-making.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But nothing was going to stand in the way of her pursuit of motherhood.—
Janine Rubenstein,
People.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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As a result, your attention is diverted from your growth and innovation wish list, replaced by the relentless pursuit of cost reductions.—
Seamus Smith,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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He’s covered every sport imaginable, from Little League to the World Series to the Olympics.—
David Ammenheuser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Online advice abounds, from amateur enthusiasts to professional sports analysts at media giants.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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These avocations can take many shapes—traveling, golf, time with family, snowboarding, knitting, hunting, gardening, fishing, church choir, college football, crossword puzzles, theater, cycling, and walking.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes,
17 Dec. 2024
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What began as an avocation turned into a serious occupation, as Fox Solomon turned to documenting the remnants of segregation visible in Chattanooga and across the South.—
Christina Cacouris,
The New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Her attorneys said the first responders had no legitimate business reason for doing so and instead were violating her privacy rights by using the photos as souvenirs or objects of amusement.—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
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Lochlan obliged and gave Saxon a peck, before leaning back in and grabbing his brother's neck for a full makeout, much to Chloe and Chelsea’s amusement.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hobbyhorse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobbyhorse. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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