Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Snake oil

noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A fraudulent, ineffective potion or nostrum; panacea. idiomatic, uncountable
  2. 2
    communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive wordnet
  3. 3
    A traditional Chinese medicine used to treat joint pain. uncountable
  4. 4
    (medicine) any of various liquids sold as medicine (as by a travelling medicine show) but medically worthless wordnet
  5. 5
    A type of 19th-century patent medicine sold in the United States that claimed to contain snake fat, supposedly a Native American remedy for various ailments. uncountable
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality. idiomatic, uncountable

    "As for the IRP, Secretary of State Grant Shapps continues to peddle snake oil, smoke and mirrors. His reaction to near-universal IRP condemnation from politicians, local and national media, and all but a few rail specialists was to dismiss the lot of us (in the condescending and patronising tone we have now come to expect) as "critics and naysayers"."

See also for "snake oil"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: snakeoil