Standard Lemma guide

pooh-pooh

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌpuːˈpuː/
  • General-American: /ˈpuˈpu/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uː

1

verb

Meaning 1

To dismiss idly with contempt or derision; to diminish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

reject with contempt

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She spurned his advances

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reject, spurn, freeze off, scorn, disdain, turn down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: refuse, decline

Narrower terms: rebuff, snub, repel

3

verb

Meaning 3

express contempt about

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: express, verbalize, verbalise, utter, give tongue to

History

Etymology

From a reduplication of pooh (“an utterance of the word pooh”).