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Trimming the blather: "nonsense" vs. "poppycock"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 20/11/2024, 11:05
English.me team member
Nonsense and poppycock. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words refer to speech or writing that is foolish, absurd, or lacks sense.

What is different?

The word "nonsense" is more commonly used and can be applied broadly to anything that lacks meaning, while "poppycock" is more informal and often used to dismiss exaggerated or pretentious statements.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for nonsense) and poppycock

Examples of usage

Nonsense
  • His explanation was pure nonsense and didn't help anyone understand the problem.
  • She dismissed the rumors as complete nonsense.
Poppycock
  • Don't believe a word he says; it's all poppycock!
  • His theory sounded like poppycock to the experienced scientists.

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