Synonyms for hocus-pocus
- noun
- interjection
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Trickery
trickery, deception, balderdash, deceit, rigmarole, rigamarole US, artifice, hanky-panky, scam, drivel, skulduggery, skullduggery US, prattle, con, fudge, rubbish, slickness, cheat, jiggery-pokery, chicanery, hogwash, gobbledygook informal US, gobbledegook UK, malarkey informal, jargon
2. Magic — some action carried out to bring about change as if by magic; a trick; sleight of hand, trickery
sleight-of-hand, magic, legerdemain, trick, conjuring, conjuration, prestidigitation, illusionism, jugglery dated, prestigiation dated
Other
Interjection
presto, abracadabra, shazam, alakazam, hey pass dated
Definitions
- n. 1
Some action carried out to bring about change as if by magic; a trick; sleight of hand, trickery.
- n. 2
Some ineffectual action or speech, especially if intended to divert attention; nonsense.
- interj. 1
A phrase used (by a stage magician, etc.) as a magical incantation to bring about some change: abracadabra, hey presto.
Related words
- Word family
- hocus
- Other spellings
- hocus and pocus hocuspocus
Forms
- Plural
- hocus-pocuses → trickeries, deceptions, deceits, rigmaroles…
Example sentences
- deception She was aware of his propensity towards deception.
- deceit He acquired a great fortune by using deceit and treachery.
- trickery The ones who lack courage, exceed in trickery.
- magic He amused the children by showing them some magic.
By length
- 3 letters
- con1
- 4 letters
- scam1
- 5 letters
- magic2, trick1, cheat1, fudge1
- 6 letters
- deceit2, jargon2, juggle2, presto2, shazam, drivel2
- 7 letters
- rubbish2, hogwash2, prattle2
- 8 letters
- trickery3, artifice3, malarkey3, alakazam, jugglery
- 9 letters
- deception3, conjuring3, chicanery4, rigmarole, slickness
- 10 letters
- balderdash3, rigamarole
- 11 letters
- abracadabra5, skulduggery4, conjuration, legerdemain4, illusionism5
- 12 letters
- gobbledygook4, skullduggery, gobbledegook
- 13 letters
- prestigiation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (magic2 = 2 syllables).