fake 1 of 3

adjective

ˈfāk How to pronounce fake (audio)
Definition of fakenext
1
as in counterfeit
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud arrested for peddling "designer" watches that were fake

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2
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials opposed to the unnecessary killing of animals, she'll consider wearing only fake furs

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3
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality the boss's pitiful attempts at humor were met with fake laughter

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4
as in double
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express the fake friendliness of the sales rep made me want to gag

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fake

2 of 3

noun

1
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine experts declared that one of the museum's prized paintings was actually a fake

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2
as in fraud
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise a hidden-camera investigation revealed that the so-called psychic was a fake

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fake

3 of 3

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

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2
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of while running for class president, Dan was not above faking friendship with people just to get their votes

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3
as in to concoct
to perform, make, or do without preparation if you give me the gist of the plan, I can probably fake enough for the speech

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4
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

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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

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

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
He was allegedly paid thousands of dollars for allegedly fake off-duty work shifts. —Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026 MorphCostumes’ biggest market is America, particularly around Halloween, when children from Detroit to West Palm Beach like nothing better than ghost outfits and fake blood. —Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
In a world where there are more and more deep fakes and questions about what content represents, this project – and football itself – taps into something real. —John Hopewell, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026 Drake had taken a risk, executed the perfect fake. —Tim Rohan, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Senior point guard Sam Kelly faked a drive and passed to her right to Walker, who hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. —Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 What's harder to fake is a long operating history. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
  1. counterfeit
  2. synthetic
  3. mock
  4. double
  5. hoax
  6. fraud
  7. forge
  8. pretend
Adjective
  • While the victim is retrieving the money, a second suspect quickly removes the ATM card from the machine and replaces it with a counterfeit card that closely resembles the original.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
  • While the person is distracted, the initial suspect quickly steals the ATM card from the machine and replaces it with a counterfeit card.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of counterfeit
Adjective
  • Franklin’s work follows a 2025 Consumer Reports study, which made the rounds on social media last year after finding carcinogens in 10 synthetic braiding hair extensions.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
  • That is in part, experts say, because newer, synthetic materials are less likely to bleed than the natural fibers that made up most of our clothes in the past.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Denver Post Broncos beat reporter Luca Evans also has McNeil-Warren coming to Denver in his mock draft.
    — Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
  • An annual festival in Andorra drew condemnation from the country’s small Jewish community after an effigy bearing the Israeli flag was staged in a mock trial and then hung and shot.
    — Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of mock
Adjective
  • The cancerous tissue contained on average more than double the amount of plastic as healthy prostate tissue samples, the study found.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Crucially, however, there is another view onto Bove’s sculpture beyond the double illusionism of its oblique materialism and front-facing near-pictorialism.
    — Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Definition of double
Noun
  • The Colorado park ranger accused of stabbing himself in a hoax that sparked a large-scale manhunt at Staunton State Park last August took a plea deal Monday.
    — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The seasonal park ranger accused of creating a stabbing hoax at Colorado's Staunton State Park last summer has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • One Minnesota federal prosecutor last summer estimated that the total fraud across several programs could exceed $9 billion.
    — STEVE KARNOWSKI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
  • In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a home healthcare agency named Twin Cities Care Services received $116,000 in reimbursements over just two months in 2024, even though the business was busted eight years earlier for Medicaid fraud.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • The second Vanderbilt University Literary Prize recipient is Melissa Range’s Printer’s Fist, forged from archival research of nineteenth century anti-slavery movements.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
  • In foreign policy, Beijing has prioritized its own interests by forging bilateral ties while encouraging multilateral engagement.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of forge
Verb
  • The Buffs, who open spring ball Monday, are full-speed ahead at pretending 2025 didn’t happen — so much so, in fact, that nearly half the roster, both coordinators and a chunk of the coaching staff are brand new.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Kate Moss, Anok Yai, and Alex Consani were just three of the many famous names who walked down the runway, holding pretend cigarettes and real bags at the crook of their elbow — just like Paris Hilton, who sat front row next to her sister Nicky, did in the noughties.
    — Elektra Kotsoni, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of pretend

Phrases Containing fake

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faked
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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fake

Nglish: Translation of fake for Spanish Speakers

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