portmanteau

Wall Street loves an ugly portmanteau, or jamming together of two words in a way that sows confusion, followed closely by dislike.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

The phenomenon became known by its own portmanteau, “vibecession.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Some call themselves healthmaxxers – sharing tips on what to eat and working out, while others identify as looksmaxxers, a portmanteau for 'looks maximising', where the aim is to totally "optimise" one's physical appearance.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

SaaSpocalypse is the portmanteau combining the acronym for software-as-a-service, SaaS, with apocalypse.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 24, 2026

“Ah, yes, the portmanteau call, as you say in England.”

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

The grammar of German means that it is a language in many ways uniquely suited to combining existing words to make longer but highly specific portmanteaus.

From Slate ● Feb. 25, 2025

They experiment with Morse code, and coin portmanteaus to save on their daily word quota.

From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2023

As long as there have been neighborhoods, there have been portmanteaus meant to sell those neighborhoods and their potential trendiness.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2022

In that first iteration, the anonymous writer explained “hatriot” in almost bemused terms as just one then recent example of portmanteaus like “Republocrat”.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 7, 2019

Now, as we are going to leave most of our portmanteaus and luggage here until we return, this propensity of theirs becomes a grave inconvenience.

From March to Magdala by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

Except for the two portmanteaux it was devoid of all sign of the owner.

From The Outcaste by F. E. Penny

I dare say, Sir Robert can take him, and we will send the portmanteaux.

From Phoebe, Junior by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

Anna's tin box was flung on to the roof of the cab amid the trunks and portmanteaux already there.

From Anna of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett

There are probably twenty brown portmanteaux at this present moment waiting at Jigby Junction, and if I know anything of railway officials, they will be sure to send the wrong one.

From Humorous Readings and Recitations In prose and verse by Various

The portmanteaux must be left behind, empty, or suspicion would be roused if by chance one of the family paid a visit to the master.

From The Outcaste by F. E. Penny