Blarney — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈblär-nē/ blar·ney

Meaning & Definition of Blarney

Blarney (noun)

  1. skillful flattery, blandishment
  2. nonsense, humbug

Blarney (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. excessive praise

    "laid the blarney on thick in order to get special treatment from the waitress"

    similar: adulation, butter, flannel (British), flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy
    related: allurements, blandishments, endearments, caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects, adoration, idolatry, worship, fawning, sycophancy, toadying, cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm, acclaim, applause, commendation, praise
    near: bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down

  2. language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense

    "his excuse was his usual blarney about how he'd love to help out but he was just so darned busy"

    similar: applesauce (slang), balderdash, baloney, beans, bilge, blah, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bull (slang), bunk, bunkum, claptrap, codswallop (British), crapola (slang), crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flannel (British), flapdoodle, folderol, folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, horsefeathers (slang), humbug, humbuggery, jazz, malarkey, moonshine, muck, nerts (slang), nonsense, nuts, piffle, poppycock, punk, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, slush, stupidity, taradiddle, tommyrot, tosh, trash, trumpery, twaddle
    related: absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility, inaneness, inanity, insanity, kookiness, lunacy, absurdness, craziness, madness, witlessness, hoity-toity, monkey business, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery, gas, hot air, rigmarole, double-talk, greek, hocus-pocus
    near: levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness, common sense, horse sense, sense, discernment, judgment, wisdom

Blarney (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery

    "attendants at the nursing home sometimes have to blarney the patients to take their medicine"

    similar: blandish, cajole, coax, palaver, soft-soap, sweet-talk, wheedle
    related: adulate, flatter, overpraise, butter up, charm, massage, woo, beg, beseech, importune, urge, beguile, cozen, finagle, juggle, wangle, wile, entice, lure, seduce, tempt
    near: bug, harass, nag, pester, tease, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, intimidate, coerce, compel, constrain, demand, force, make, oblige, require

  2. to praise too much

    "an eager, young assistant who blarneys the boss shamelessly"

    similar: adulate, belaud, butter up, flatter, hero-worship, honey, massage, overpraise, puff, soft-soap, stroke
    related: blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle, fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady, idolize, worship, eulogize, extol, laud, praise, applaud, commend, compliment, congratulate, felicitate, drool, gush, slaver, slobber, endear, ingratiate, court, romance, woo
    near: bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Blarney

The most common words with a similar meaning to Blarney:

Slang: applesauce, bull, crapola, horsefeathers, nerts
British: flannel, codswallop
adulation, butter, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy, balderdash, baloney, beans, bilge, blah, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bunk, bunkum, claptrap, crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flapdoodle, folderol, folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, humbug, humbuggery

Related Words for Blarney

allurements, blandishments, endearments, caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects, adoration, idolatry, worship, fawning, sycophancy, toadying, cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm, acclaim, applause, commendation, praise, absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility

Near Antonyms of Blarney

bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down, levelheadedness, rationality, reasonability, reasonableness, sensibleness, common sense, horse sense, sense, discernment, judgment, wisdom, bug, harass, nag, pester, tease, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, intimidate, coerce, compel, constrain

Word Forms of Blarney

Derived words: blarney (verb)

Origin & Etymology of Blarney

Blarney stone, a stone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, held to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it

First known use: 1780

Frequently Asked Questions about Blarney

What does "Blarney" mean?

"Blarney" means skillful flattery, blandishment. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: skillful flattery, blandishment. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Blarney"?

Other words for "Blarney" include adulation, butter, flannel, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap and sweet talk. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Blarney" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Blarney"?

There are 170 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Blarney". Common alternatives include adulation, butter, flannel, flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy and applesauce.

What is a slang word for "Blarney"?

Slang words for "Blarney" include applesauce, bull, crapola, horsefeathers and nerts.

How do you use "Blarney" in a sentence?

Examples of "Blarney" in a sentence: "laid the blarney on thick in order to get special treatment from the waitress"; "his excuse was his usual blarney about how he'd love to help out but he was just so darned busy"; "attendants at the nursing home sometimes have to blarney the patients to take their medicine".

Is "Blarney" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Blarney" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Blarney"?

"Blarney" is pronounced /ˈblär-nē/ and divided into syllables as blar·ney.

What is the origin of the word "Blarney"?

"Blarney" comes from Blarney stone, a stone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, held to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it. First known use: 1780.