What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Bluff vs Sham - What's the difference?

bluff | sham | Synonyms |

Bluff is a synonym of sham.


As proper nouns the difference between bluff and sham

is that bluff is the southernmost town in the south island of new zealand, and seaport for the southland region while sham is syria.

bluff

English

(wikipedia bluff)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one's position in order to intimidate; braggadocio.
    • That is only bluff''', or a '''bluff .
  • (poker) An attempt to represent oneself as holding a stronger hand than they actually do.
    • John's bet was a bluff : he bet without even so much as a pair.
  • (US, dated) The card game poker.
    • (Bartlett)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • ((poker) To make a bluff ; to give the impression that one's hand is stronger than it is.
    • John bluffed by betting without even a pair.
  • (by analogy ) To frighten or deter with a false show of strength or confidence; to give a false impression of strength or temerity in order to intimidate and gain some advantage.
    • The government claims it will call an election if this bill does not pass. Is it truly ready to do so, or is it bluffing ?

    Derived terms

    * bluffer * double bluff * triple bluff * quadruple bluff * semi-bluff

    Etymology 2

    Related to blaff, "smooth".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
  • (senseid) (Canadian Prairies) A small wood or stand of trees, typically poplar or willow.

    • Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a broad, flattened front.
    • the bluff bows of a ship
  • Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front.
  • * Falconer
    • a bluff or bold shore
  • * Judd
    • Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect.
  • Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
  • * 1883:
    • he had a bluff , rough-and-ready face, all roughened and reddened and lined in his long travels.
  • Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque.
    • a bluff''' answer; a '''bluff''' manner of talking; a '''bluff sea captain
  • * I. Taylor
    • There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defence in a moment of surprise.

    References

    *

    External links

    * ----

    sham

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Intended to deceive; false.
    • It was only a sham wedding: they didn't care much for one another but wanted their parents to stop hassling them.
  • counterfeit; unreal
  • * Jowett
    • They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians.

    Synonyms

    * mock * See also

    Antonyms

    * genuine * sincere * real

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fake; an imitation that purports to be genuine.
    • The time-share deal was a sham .
  • Trickery, hoaxing.
    • A con-man must be skilled in the arts of sham and deceit.
  • A false front, or removable ornamental covering.
  • A decorative cover for a pillow.

    • Derived terms

    * shamateur

    See also

    * pillow sham

    Verb

    (shamm)
  • To deceive, cheat, lie.
  • * L'Estrange
    • Fooled and shammed into a conviction.
  • To obtrude by fraud or imposition.
  • * L'Estrange
    • We must have a care that we do not sham fallacies upon the world for current reason.
  • To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape; to feign.

    • External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * * * * ----