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
Relevance
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
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 counterfeits
Gabrielle Fonrouge,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Zhang said more companies may face lawsuits from Pop Mart over Lafufus, but counterfeits might also decrease as Pop Mart ramps up its production.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
While fake goods have exchanged hands in informal markets since ancient times, the growth of online marketplaces has contributed to the rise in counterfeits because of how easy online shopping and selling have become.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Zhang said more companies may face lawsuits from Pop Mart over Lafufus, but counterfeits might also decrease as Pop Mart ramps up its production.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 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
-
Forgeries, hoaxes, and other types of literary fakery have preoccupied Havens, a rare books and manuscripts curator at the university’s Stern Center for the History of the Book, for many years now.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On fourth-and-2 from 48-yard line, Nix fakes pitch to Dobbins and Sutton is open from moment left line of scrimmage because of formation.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The story follows Bárbara, rebellious and broke, who fakes her way into a convent for a private room and some peace—only to find herself on an unexpected spiritual journey.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After encountering an old friend, Colette, embarrassed about her friend’s success compared to her own, pretends to be a customer at the DMV instead of an employee.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
-
In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While genuine antiques from the Ming dynasty can fetch millions at auction, many later reproductions and export pieces from the 18th to 20th centuries still carry significant value.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, forges an historic first week, its accolades extend to Billboard’s radio charts.—
Gary Trust,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Bettany played English poet and writer Geoffrey Chaucer in the medieval action-comedy, which starred Ledger as William Thatcher, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, who forges a new identity for himself as a knight when his master dies.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the primary bath, the space is lined with $750,000 worth of ivory onyx tile featuring a $20,000 Toto Zero-Gravity tub that simulates floating.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The seats move, wind gets blown at you (something that makes for a particularly unsettling moment when a character is shot in the head and the 4DX system simulates the bullet whizzing into your ear), and lights pop on and off around the auditorium to simulate gunfire and other effects.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While those films were burned, what the West never knew was that those were not the only copies of these films as Hesse had stored the vast majority of the originals safely in London, away from the political upheaval.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Vintage copies of our iconic Red Plaid Cookbook lined shelves at the café, giving patrons a glimpse into BHG’s century-old history.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After President Rayburn dies, Grace assumes the presidency.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That assumes a 20% downpayment of $177,900.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterfeits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeits. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share