Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

boondoggle

[boon-dog-uhl, -daw-guhl] / ˈbunˌdɒg əl, -ˌdɔ gəl /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Was it an exciting new form of entertainment, or a boondoggle?

From BBC Mar. 30, 2026

He vehemently denied that the United States was entering into another long-term boondoggle in the Middle East.

From Salon Mar. 2, 2026

What we got instead was a colossal boondoggle.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 1, 2026

Opponents, including agencies in the delta and environmental advocates, say the project is an expensive boondoggle that would harm the environment and communities, and that the state should pursue other alternatives.

From Los Angeles Times May 20, 2025

The United States has not embarked upon its formidable program of space exploration in order to make or perpetuate a gigantic astronautic boondoggle.

From The Practical Values of Space Exploration Report of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, Eighty-Sixth Congress, Second Session by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics.

And no rules at the Guardian, apparently, regarding outrageous boondoggles and ocean-going junkets.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 9, 2025

Discovery CEO David Zaslav, in contrast with the preceding AT&T regime, has rejected big streaming movies as boondoggles.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 22, 2022

I want to know about the boondoggles and the scandalous demolitions and the gems; the engineering follies and the perfect streets; the gargoyles and the starchitects and the bars with walls like old gorgonzola.

From Slate Dec. 8, 2022

And triumphs such as “Hamilton” and boondoggles like “King Kong.”

From Washington Post Nov. 4, 2022

The Underdowns don’t like to come out here in the boondoggles, so believe you me this was an occasion.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

“What’s the word — boondoggled? Hornswaggled?” the former mailman and Vietnam War veteran said with an easy chuckle while seated at a table off the deserted bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt on a recent afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 3, 2016

I think that you can’t ever protect yourself from boondoggling.

From Salon Sep. 19, 2019

How do you think this cautionary tale plays that such boondoggling won’t happen again?

From Salon Sep. 19, 2019

Frayn's greatest comic invention is to take a horde of thirsty European journalists on a boondoggling press junket to the Near East.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week's 12,000 visitors, sauntering down the nine cool galleries of the Institute's east wing, found scarcely a boondoggling brush stroke.

From Time Magazine Archive

Walter, do you remember when the one thing in the world that made you maddest was boondoggling?

From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1969 July - December by Library of Congress. Copyright Office




Vocabulary lists containing boondoggle


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training