Carny

Quick meaning: Carny is a noun meaning (informal, countable) A person who works in a carnival (often one who uses exaggerated showmanship or fraud).

Meaning

(informal, countable) A person who works in a carnival (often one who uses exaggerated showmanship or fraud).

More Meanings

1. (uncountable) The jargon used by carnival workers.
2. (informal, countable) A carnival.
3. (dialectal) To cajole, wheedle, or coax.
4. (dialectal) Flattery.

Example Sentences

The Reverend Foster, self-ordained—or directly ordained by God, depending on authority cited—had an instinct for the pulse of his times stronger than that of a skilled carnie sizing up a mark.

The crossing at St. Martin’s Church was mine fust of all; and when the other lads come to it I didn’t take no heed of ’em—only for that I’d have been a bright boy by now, but they carnied me over like; for when I tried to turn ’em off they’d say, in a carnying way, ‘Oh, let us stay on,’ so I never took no heed of ’em.

Bart spies an opportunity to make a quick buck so he channels his inner carny and posits his sinking house as a natural wonder of the world and its inhabitants as freaks, barking to dazzled spectators, “Behold the horrors of the Slanty Shanty! See the twisted creatures that dwell within! Meet Cue-Ball, the man with no hair!”

Word Forms

• carnies
• carney
• carnie
• carnying
• carnied

Synonyms for carny

Depending on context, synonyms include showie, inveigle, sweet-talk, blandander, blandish, cajole.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include carnie, carney, geek, carnaper, clowny, butcher.

Related Dictionary Tools