counterfeit 1 of 3

counterfeit

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noun

counterfeit

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of counterfeit are fake, fraud, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

In what contexts can fake take the place of counterfeit?

The synonyms fake and counterfeit are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 is it sensible to use fraud instead of counterfeit?

In some situations, the words fraud and counterfeit are roughly equivalent. However, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

Where would humbug be a reasonable alternative to counterfeit?

The meanings of humbug and counterfeit largely overlap; however, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When might imposture be a better fit than counterfeit?

The words imposture and counterfeit 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 counterfeit?

The words sham and counterfeit can be used in similar contexts, but 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 counterfeit
Adjective
Behind counterfeit fashion are men, women and children coerced into making, distributing or selling fake goods — often at great personal risk and with little gain. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025 They were then taken to a counterfeit login page asking for personal details. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
Marq Vision was cofounded in 2020 by Mark Lee, a former McKinsey consultant who holds a Doctor of Law from Harvard, to identify counterfeits in online listings using AI. Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 The complaint shows a slew of products that Twenty One Pilots alleges are counterfeits bearing their trademarks. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
What about the increasingly complex supply chain for electronics, involving international sourcing, multi-stage assembly, and potentially counterfeiting? Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025 When he was arrested in November, Jackson was in a car with another person, where Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies also found a printer and counterfeit $2, $5, $10, $20 and $100 bills. Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit
Adjective
  • Methanol is an industrial chemical that can cause nerve and liver damage and is sometimes found in fake or poorly distilled alcohol.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For some Obamacare beneficiaries, premiums are expected to more than double, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (aka KFF), a nonprofit health care research organization.
    Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • On the morning of June 3, Pandora's mother, Simone Kjolsrud, told The Republic that on May 26, the pair were victims of a double homicide while the teens were on a camping trip.
    Julie Mendes, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
  • These guys came into my office, told me that there was nothing to the Russia hoax in February of 2017.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Those typically involve a winning team, which can forge indelible memories in the biggest curmudgeons among us.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • In the spirit of serving its community, the new theater has been designed to forge a sense of inclusion, according to Lythcott.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Inspire pretend play with the popular Melissa & Doug Ice Cream Counter or give them a chance to be creative with the Yrinfay DIY Unicorn Shrinking Plastic Art Kit.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
  • According to the outlet and several videos circulating on social media, Mojito tricked pedestrians by pretending to inject them with a syringe in a series of viral videos.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Evaluating defamation claims where the report contains demonstrably false factual assertions.
    Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
  • However, as several independent experts interviewed by NPR note, that claim is false.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There are a dozen books in the main series as well as a three-book spin off series — counting all of them, the books have sold more than three million copies worldwide.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Over the summer, the DOJ asked the South Carolina Election Commission for copies of the state's voter registration list.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What constitutes the crime is to phony up business accounting records to disguise the payments.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
  • In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.
    Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 29 Mar. 2018

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Cite this Entry

“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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