cakewalk

noun

cake·​walk ˈkāk-ˌwȯk How to pronounce cakewalk (audio)
Synonyms of cakewalknext
1
a
: a one-sided contest : an easy victory
In states and localities across America, good times are making for reelection cakewalks.Douglas Foster
b
: an easy task
… it's no cakewalk to raise a family on two part-time salaries, even for a little while.Belinda Luscombe
2
: an African American entertainment having a cake as prize for the most accomplished steps and figures in walking
3
: a stage dance developed from walking steps and figures typically involving a high prance with backward tilt
cakewalk intransitive verb
cakewalker noun

Examples of cakewalk in a Sentence

She expected the election to be a cakewalk. Reducing the state budget is not going to be a cakewalk.
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.
Times that would make today seem like a cakewalk. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026 There’s also an unknown independent candidate and, thankfully, one serious former legislator who in a sane political world would make it to Sacramento in a cakewalk. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026 There are no real cakewalks in March and – as Thursday proved – upsets are always on the cards. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026 Plus, the Pistons have a 3 1/2 game lead on the Boston Celtics, and as Jay notes above, the Celtics’ remaining schedule isn’t exactly a cakewalk. Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cakewalk

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of cakewalk was in 1863

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Cite this Entry

“Cakewalk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cakewalk. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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