Carny

/ˈkɑː(ɹ)ni/ · noun

Meaning

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

Definitions by Sense

1. (informal, countable) A person who works in a carnival (often one who uses exaggerated showmanship or fraud).
2. (uncountable) The jargon used by carnival workers.
3. (informal, countable) A carnival.
4. (dialectal) To cajole, wheedle, or coax.
5. (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.

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!”

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.

Synonyms for carny

Antonyms for carny

Related Words

Word Forms

• carnies
• carney
• carnie
• carnying
• carnied

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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