ersatz

adjective

ˈer-ˌsäts How to pronounce ersatz (audio)
Definition of ersatznext
as in faux
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials like everything else the restaurant served, the whipped cream on the dessert was ersatz

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ersatz The finished product was a combination of Gyllenhaal’s and Sher’s ideas and the ways the performers would make the ersatz world of the film feel real. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026 At Disney, the ersatz world is the commodity that people are buying. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026 This inexpensive ersatz version of pizza, which many in postwar Japan couldn’t afford, became a widespread snack sensation. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026 In a world of deepfakes, ersatz eye contact is small beer. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ersatz
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ersatz
  1. faux
  2. synthetic
  3. fake
  4. artificial
  5. simulated
Adjective
  • The earrings create a faux huggie effect by rounding and curving upward at the bottom.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • Below it, there’s a wide concave base with a drainage hole that’s ideal for faux flowers, real flowers, or decorative rocks.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • Friction also causes pilling, particularly on lower-quality synthetic bouclé, leaving small fiber balls on the surface.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Each pair features the same 2000s-era mesh base and synthetic overlays seen on previous colorways, but the true highlight of the reintroduced Adrenaline GTS 10 lies within.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Multiple schools are at the center of incidents in which teens are facing legal consequences for generating fake explicit images of their classmates.
    — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Gen Alphas seem to know almost immediately when something is fake, overproduced, delayed or culturally disconnected, which is why the strongest content right now often feels chaotic.
    — Kelly Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • With the help of his students, Wangchuk froze stream water into conical artificial glaciers—or ice stupas—to store water during the winter and release it throughout the drier spring and summer.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
  • Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of artificial
Adjective
  • Under simulated flight conditions, salt was perceived as 20 to 30 percent less intense.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • This step marks a significant milestone in autonomous electronic warfare following a simulated test in February 2026.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
Definition of simulated

Browse Nearby Words

errs
ersatz
erstwhile
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Cite this Entry

“Ersatz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ersatz. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ersatz for Spanish Speakers

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