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Definition of phooey

phooey

/ˈfuː.i/
phoo · ey
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phooey Lexical Profile

phooey Game Scores & Validity

• interjection

1

Used to express mild disgust, disbelief, contempt, or disappointment.

Example

"Phooey, the rain ruined our afternoon picnic plans again!"

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

Foolish, false, or nonsensical talk or ideas; rubbish.

Example

"He dismissed all their superstitious warnings as a lot of phooey."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for phooey
Antonyms
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• Rhymes for phooey

• Nearby Words

phoniness
phonograph
phony
phooey
phorminx
phormium
phosphate

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in American English in the late 1920s, likely an expressive elaboration of the older interjection 'phoo' or influenced by German 'pfui', an exclamation of disgust.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Phooey. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/phooey
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