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fake

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noun

fake

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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fake documents
counterfeit documents
falsified documents
fraudulent documents
phony documents
bogus documents
a fake identity
a falsified identity
a fraudulent identity
a counterfeit identity
a fictitious identity
a feigned identity
fake news
bogus news
phony news
a fake smile
an inauthentic smile
a feigned smile
a hollow smile
a counterfeit smile
a phony smile

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

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
The room was hotel fancy: a lot of shiny fake wood paneling and inoffensive carpeting. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 9 July 2025 Following the wildfires in Los Angeles in January, fake images showed the Hollywood sign on fire—though the area was not in the path of the fire. Simmone Shah, Time, 9 July 2025
Noun
Any such messages are malicious fakes and should be deleted right away. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 Another drawback to resale is the risk of purchasing a fake. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 17 June 2025
Verb
Recognition, team culture and meaningful work matter, and they can’t be faked or bought. Ivan Terzi, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Prosecutors allege that, between 2016 and early this year, a four-person ring helped 24 healthy men dodge the draft by faking high blood pressure to gain a medical exemption, netting a total of 7.63 million Taiwanese dollars ($255,000). Will Ripley, CNN Money, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • Another respondent described neighbors overdosing on counterfeit Chinese drugs.
    Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
  • Enrico Ronquillo, 37, was indicted for using a counterfeit driver’s license and a birth certificate – both from California – to impersonate a U.S. citizen from May 11 to 14, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska said in a June 16 news release.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Tennis strings come in three main categories: natural gut, multifilament, which is synthetic but made up of thousands of fibres woven together per string, and polyester, which is a single fibre per string.
    Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Big ideas that were previously just dreams—such as using AI and big data to build synthetic control arms, conduct post-market analysis, or assist with scientific reviews—are now becoming a reality.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • In a recent mock draft, Baseball America speculated the Sox would select Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold if the run on prep shortstops left him on the board.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • This time, he was invited to continue in the selection process, which included another test over Zoom with about 30 other hopeful applicants, a personality interview and a virtual mock game.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • The soundtrack that accompanied her film A Star Is Born, which is credited to the singer-songwriter as well as Bradley Cooper, was certified double platinum back in 2019.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The unfortunate frame began with a Davis Schneider double, which knocked Carlos Rodón out of the game.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Whiting insisted there was nothing to suggest the note Meyer's birth mom had left was a hoax.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 3 July 2025
  • That person later admitted in a Substack post that his claim to represent the band was itself a hoax.
    Natalie Kainz, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • In a plea deal, Johnson pled guilty to one count of broker-dealer registration violation, a Class C felony, in exchange for the 14 securities fraud counts being dismissed.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • In a digital world full of scams and fraud, earning trust is more important—and more difficult—than ever.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Those helming businesses are required to make a crucial call about staying the course amid uncertainty or forging a brave, new path.
    Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • Combs founded Bad Boy Records in 1993 and forged a roster of stars that jettisoned hip-hop into the mainstream, including the late Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Faith Evans and the groups 112 and Total, among others.
    Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • The scams might start out with a text from someone pretending to be a government official, such as a local sheriff.
    Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 10 July 2025
  • Adams, who started as a center forward pretending to be former Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, recalled taking his earliest steps in soccer in Wappinger.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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