Definition of Barnumism:
(v) :
To promote with bombast, exaggeration, or outright falsehood; to hype or sensationalize.
(v) :
To dumb down, cheapen, or vulgarize something, especially to create entertainment that appeals to coarse or unsophisticated tastes.
(v) :
To enliven something, especially a spectacle or attraction.
(v) :
To seek or attract attention, especially through ostentation.
(v) :
To obtain money through fraudulent or deceitful means; to swindle or con.
(v) :
To spread inaccurate or false information.