fake out

verb

Definition of fake outnext
1
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue my friends faked me out for a whole day, letting me think that they had forgotten my birthday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement used a quick between-the-legs dribble to fake out the flat-footed defender

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 fake out There was one instance where journeyman Micah Potter faked out Kel’el Ware and drove for a thunderous dunk. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026 Asked about the fake out, Mara grinned. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026 After the match, Kidd and Finlay, along with Clark Connors, attack Cassidy and Allin until Roderick Strong walks down to the ring, fakes out The Dogs and helps Cassidy and Allin get retribution. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026 In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders. — ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fake out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake out
  1. trick
  2. evade
  3. fool
  4. fake
  5. deceive
  6. string along
  7. suck in
Verb
  • There are now fake NFC chips that [counterfeiters] will put into handbags to trick people.
    — Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Use strong antivirus software Scammers may use fake health insurance websites, phishing emails or text messages to trick you into clicking malicious links.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Several charges are pending against the suspect, including assault on a peace officer and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The franchise began in 1997 as a relatively simple, top-down game that allowed players to roam fictional cities, steal vehicles, evade police and commit crimes.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of evade
Verb
  • This laptop might have a spacious 16-inch screen, but don't let its size fool you.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 13 Nov. 2026
  • More importantly, Trumpian communication could not fool all of the people all of the time, as the current midterm results amply show.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • Mateer faked a handoff and a reverse to Sategna and quickly flipped it to a wide-open Hayden Hansen for a 3-yard TD pass and a 10-0 lead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The participants were asked to either fake a smile in response to each image or told to respond naturally.
    — Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of fake
Verb
  • But don’t be deceived, these are not primarily poems of the body, though the animal body–the dog, the human, meat– return throughout.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The first rule of thumb—and a solid piece of advice to live by—is that looks can be deceiving.
    — Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • This year’s tree will be decked out in nearly 50,000 multihued LED lights strung along 5 miles of wire.
    — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2026
  • For one thing, the aircraft was an all-electric number powered by a dozen electric motors strung along the leading edge of the wing.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of string along
Verb
  • In his role as the interviewer, Russ at times seems to play the role of Tyson’s therapist, leading him back inside some of his darkest memories without getting sucked in himself.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2026
  • How Air Purifiers Handle Pet Hair And Dander Air purifiers suck in indoor air and pass it through a series of filters that trap airborne particles before blowing the air back into the room.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of suck in

Browse Nearby Words

faked out
fake out
faker
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Cite this Entry

“Fake out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake%20out. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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