as in hoaxes
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the will as well as the other documents turned out to be counterfeits
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fakes
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive
an expert at counterfeiting money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of
managing to counterfeit a happy expression while visiting a sick friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterfeits
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Its expert team enforces strict production rules, promotes the brand globally, fights counterfeits and certifies every wheel.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Greece, home to an extensive repository of cultural artifacts, has long contended with the proliferation of counterfeits and the looting of archaeological sites.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
By 2009, Nakamoto took Bitcoin from theory to reality, mining the Genesis Block, and then, once the rules were set, protections against counterfeits were secured, and Bitcoin began to circulate—still worth next to nothing—Nakamoto vanished.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
While many online retailers and marketplaces have taken steps to address the marketing of counterfeits, others still haven’t put the requisite measures in place—like notice and takedown procedures, identity verification and policies to punish offenders—that would curb the behavior.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
As Forbes has previously reported, the secondary market — once viewed as a niche or secondary — is moving into mainstream retail, particularly in luxury categories like watches and handbags, where scarcity, waitlists, and counterfeits have long complicated access.
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Do carve out a spot for the Mongkok market, with its colorful juxtaposition of souvenirs, food, fashions — beware of counterfeits, though — with live fish and even birds.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025
Safe handling and charging are indeed crucial, but what’s even more important is trying to keep counterfeits out of the supply chain.
—Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Nov. 2025
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
Unprosecuted crimes against the public — such as the widespread sale of 78-cent postage stamps for 19 cents to 59 cents, rolls of 100, counterfeits all, for years online.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Its expert team enforces strict production rules, promotes the brand globally, fights counterfeits and certifies every wheel.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Greece, home to an extensive repository of cultural artifacts, has long contended with the proliferation of counterfeits and the looting of archaeological sites.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
By 2009, Nakamoto took Bitcoin from theory to reality, mining the Genesis Block, and then, once the rules were set, protections against counterfeits were secured, and Bitcoin began to circulate—still worth next to nothing—Nakamoto vanished.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
While many online retailers and marketplaces have taken steps to address the marketing of counterfeits, others still haven’t put the requisite measures in place—like notice and takedown procedures, identity verification and policies to punish offenders—that would curb the behavior.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
As Forbes has previously reported, the secondary market — once viewed as a niche or secondary — is moving into mainstream retail, particularly in luxury categories like watches and handbags, where scarcity, waitlists, and counterfeits have long complicated access.
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Do carve out a spot for the Mongkok market, with its colorful juxtaposition of souvenirs, food, fashions — beware of counterfeits, though — with live fish and even birds.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025
Safe handling and charging are indeed crucial, but what’s even more important is trying to keep counterfeits out of the supply chain.
—Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Nov. 2025
Verb
This makes Temu counterfeits more difficult for consumers to spot while browsing, and more difficult to determine are counterfeit upon receipt of the goods.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeits
Noun
-
The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
18 June 2026
-
That is why this conversation is about far more than celebrity deepfakes or viral internet hoaxes.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The conflict escalates when Stoner fails Lomax’s protégé, Charles Walker, a student who fakes his seminar report and lacks basic knowledge.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
Jenna Ushkowitz was a Spring Awakening costar of Lea Michele's when Ryan Murphy cast her to play the one-time goth Tina, who fakes a stutter to stand out at school.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Beauty, then, arises from the pain and struggle of experiencing oneself as a site of divine truancy, and ugly is that which pretends to be directly equivalent to the soul, God, etc.—
Esther Yi,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
-
The person on the phone pretends to be IT support and tries to convince the employee to install remote desktop software.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Early in the movie, failed architect and failing furniture-store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discovers a portal into a seemingly endless, unpopulated liminal space filled with distorted reproductions of real-world rooms, objects, and even whole neighborhoods.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Rooms are done in rich fabrics in warm earth tones and dressed up with elements of local design, such as reproductions of Pavel Janak’s angular Cubist timber chairs and elegant chaise longues from designer Adolf Loos.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Ten years ago, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that forges political identities to this day and that shattered a half-century project to get closer to the continent.—
Brian Melley,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, Duncan forges ahead with Carl as his new partner.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
This year's scenario simulates an airplane crash into a building, creating multiple injuries and casualties.—
Hannah McIlree,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The Supercomputer simulates the remaining fixtures of a season 10,000 times and analyses the results to create an average league table from those simulations.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Published in four parts, from 2000 to 2003, Persepolis sold millions of copies, and Satrapi’s 2007 film adaptation received an Oscar nomination and the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
16 June 2026
-
First published in 1958, Bond's Paddington books — of which there are 29 in total — have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and have inspired multiple television adaptations.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The dominant policy framework assumes that broader access equals better outcomes.—
Christopher Carita,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 June 2026
-
This assumes, of course, that a work permit eventually comes through.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterfeits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeits. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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