fake 1 of 3

Definition of fakenext
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fake

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noun

fake

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verb

1
as in to counterfeit
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive pranksters faked giant footprints and then claimed that they had seen Bigfoot

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
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as in to evade
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement the running back faked the defense by stepping to his left and then quickly cutting to the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fake different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of fake are counterfeit, fraud, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When could counterfeit be used to replace fake?

The meanings of counterfeit and fake largely overlap; however, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When is fraud a more appropriate choice than fake?

The synonyms fraud and fake are sometimes interchangeable, but fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

In what contexts can humbug take the place of fake?

While the synonyms humbug and fake are close in meaning, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When is it sensible to use imposture instead of fake?

The words imposture and fake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

When would sham be a good substitute for fake?

Although the words sham and fake have much in common, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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
Adjective
What the lawsuit mentions Kathryn Albert, the school's former assistant principal, was briefly mentioned in the fake audio. Adam Thompson, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Ticket Scams Fraudsters often create fake ticket websites, counterfeit tickets, and fraudulent social media listings. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Noun
With deepfake attacks only showing signs of increasing, organizations must accept that no automated or human detection system is foolproof, and that resilience requires shifting focus from spotting the fake to slowing and containing the abuse of trust. Steve Piper, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Paul McCartney is a master of the fake-out. Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026
Verb
Hit men are dispatched, homicide takes hold, and a smear campaign is hatched to discredit Zaminsky as faking signals to keep his SETI gig. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 31 May 2026 But a week after reporting the kidnapping, investigators arrested the couple at their Cabazon home after determining that Emmanuel was most likely dead and the couple had faked their story. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • Ticket Scams Fraudsters often create fake ticket websites, counterfeit tickets, and fraudulent social media listings.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
  • The currency, Willis warned, turns out to be counterfeit.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • The geometric prints add detail without being overwhelming, and faux buttons top it off.
    Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
  • The shoes are also made from faux ostrich leather and feature a micro-squared open toe and a comfortable thong toe strap.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • His mock draft range has been all over the place, from the lottery to Denver’s territory.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
  • Look for mock-meat dishes built around tofu and seitan — including bánh mì chay made with tofu — along with fresh spring rolls and phở chay, typically made with mushrooms in place of beef or chicken.
    Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
Adjective
  • Frenetic winds robbed Wilyer Abreu of a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth, but Willson Contreras’ subsequent line drive made contact with the left-field wall for a game-tying RBI double and knocked Schlittler out of the game.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026
  • On Friday, tech stocks led a market bloodbath after the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report showed employers added a net 172,000 jobs last month, nearly double Wall Street forecasts.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • The fact remains that 30 years ago, before the Texas Air National Guard fiasco, among so many other fake-news hoaxes, 60 Minutes had more than 20 million viewers a week.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
  • In a world where an AI hoax could easily be promulgated across social media, or in which conspiracy theorists would likely attack a real discovery, the protocols are intended to encourage best practice and safeguard astronomers when the media spotlight falls on them.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • Visa, the world’s largest payment network outside of China, will provide the payment authorization and fraud monitoring needed to do this at scale.
    Barbara Ortutay, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • The bank that lets agents move customer money will own the early failures, the fraud cases that test the new attack surface, and the regulatory scrutiny that follows.
    Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • His political ambitions were forged by tragedy that added grit to his tabloid backstory.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 June 2026
  • After forging a strategic partnership with China in January, the country is now looking to deepen bilateral trade and investment with Indonesia through the forthcoming ratification of the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
    Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • How might Infantino continue to profess neutrality while still clearly taking a side, pretending to listen to every voice while remaining obedient to only one?
    Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
  • Organizations that have spent decades pretending that the best way to find a new audience is to alienate your existing one are beginning to realize the cost of their folly.
    Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 7 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

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