boodle

noun

boo·​dle ˈbü-dᵊl How to pronounce boodle (audio)
Synonyms of boodlenext
1
: a collection or lot of persons : caboodle
2
a
: bribe money
b
: a large amount especially of money

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of boodle in a Sentence

a boodle of teenagers boarded the bus together we saved a boodle by buying a house that's off the beaten path
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are more critical elections and bigger prizes on which that boodle is better spent. — Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 4 Nov. 2023 Big Labor’s coffers, where the boodle has been put to use for preferred Democrat candidates and liberal referenda. — Jack Fowler, National Review, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Dutch boedel estate, lot, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old Norse būth booth

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boodle was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near boodle

boodie

boodle

boodle card

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Boodle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boodle. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Gray' vs. 'Grey': What is the difference?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
yorkshire terrier dressed up as a doctor
A Visit with the Word Doctor: Medical Terms Quiz Give your vocabulary a checkup