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
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
Each item passes through a multi-step process combining advanced imaging, database cross-references, and final expert verification, a hybrid system that eliminates bias, minimizes error, and safeguards agains increasingly sophisticated counterfeits.
—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
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
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
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
Each item passes through a multi-step process combining advanced imaging, database cross-references, and final expert verification, a hybrid system that eliminates bias, minimizes error, and safeguards agains increasingly sophisticated counterfeits.
—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
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
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
-
Although investigators received many tips, some were hoaxes and others didn’t lead to any developments.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Obviously, these are hoaxes right now.—
March 17,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Returning the favor Kitty did for her earlier in Season 3 by visiting her in New York during a turbulent time with her longtime boyfriend Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), Kitty’s older sister Lara Jean (Lana Condor) fakes norovirus to fly to Seoul and take care of Kitty post-Chuseok chaos.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This isn’t a war where AI fakes fool everyone nor where detection tools catch everything.—
Mahsa Alimardani,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This team is improved, has a deeper roster, no longer pretends Kris Bryant is a major league player and features more functional pitchers (No, seriously).—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The narrator of Lerner’s tight, astonishingly trenchant new book pretends to record part of his conversations with his elderly mentor and then uses his memory to write a profile.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 2019, Banksy created his own merchandising business named Off the Wall so the public could buy reproductions of his work.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
At the intersection of these meanings is a question about the intimate reproductions of culture, how it’s passed between mentor and mentee, parent and child.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jaime Alas scores in stoppage time and El Salvador forges a 3-3 tie that ousts the United States from Olympic soccer qualifying.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
So holding 18, 19, 20-year-old young men to those standards on a daily basis is what forges championship teams.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Through flashbacks and leaps ahead in time, fragmentation and fantasy scenes, the film simulates complexity while endowing its characters with mere crumbs of knowledge and experience.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Ray tracing is a 3D rendering technology that simulates the behavior of light to produce realistic reflections and lighting effects.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bully sold a strong 56,000 physical copies in its first week and logged over 98 million on-demand streams in the same period.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators got copies of text messages between the source and Guo that included his plans and information about the targets.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, that assumes there are any businesses left in California.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The older consensus assumes Washington would still try to stabilize the situation—escort shipping, surge regional forces, send warnings, hold back from hitting the mainland.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterfeits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeits. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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