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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
Days before Elkins disappeared, on New Years Eve, Booker allegedly showed up to Elkins' home salon under a fake name, her sister said at the time. Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025 When payment was due for the merchandise, Anderson or his mother would text the victims fake wire receipts, according to court filings. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Often, there are many more fakes than true information. Brendan Cole shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025 Imagine, for example, what the Soviets, who literally worshipped Lenin’s dead body, would have done with a deep fake of their old icon. Daniel J. Feldman, The Conversation, 17 June 2025
Verb
Here are five Hoosiers who became infamous for living double lives: The money manager who tried to fake his death in a plane crash Indiana money manager Marcus Schrenker lived the good life. Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025 As part of the program, the Willow Hill administrators faked the deaths of outcast patients and subjected them to secret tests in the basement of the facility. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • Ownership is clear, authenticity is unquestionable, and counterfeit coins simply cannot exist within the network.
    Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Five people from New York — including two juveniles — were arrested on Monday and accused of trying to use counterfeit money at a number of businesses in Westport.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Situated near Surat, which is known as India’s synthetic textile capital, the new facility will have access to an abundant supply of polyester textile waste feedstock.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Once the domain of well-resourced threat actors, tools for creating synthetic images, videos and voices are now broadly available.
    Mohamed Lazzouni, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • To supplement those real-life cases, providers visit simulation labs, do monthly mock scenarios, and review advanced skills, such as using an ultrasound to help guide breathing tubes into patient airways.
    Arielle Zionts. KFF Health News, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The tin box includes a hinged plastic clear window where a small paper copy of an issue of The Daily Planet, featuring a large photo of Superboy’s canine pal Krypto on the front page with a mock story.
    Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Florence Pugh won for her work in Thunderbolts* while Michael B. Jordan won for his double role in Sinners.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Now, the company is back with a $490 double promotion that gives away a free Galaxy Watch while discounting the phone.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The authorities, though, said on Wednesday, Aug. 13, that detectives believe the whole stunt was a hoax.
    Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Jussie Smollett has maintained his innocence in the case, as the debate of whether or not the incident was a hoax or a hate crime has continued in the more than six years since the incident.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the rise of AI and sophisticated fraud techniques means organizations are managing today's threats with yesterday's tools.
    Chris McHenry, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The audit said the foundations’ inaccurate financial reporting raises the risk of fraud and misappropriation of funds.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Holt also embraced telemedicine and other technological tools to improve patient experience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, forging a path for bettering patient care in the digital age.
    Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Alexia has done it the right way, by putting in her time, forging bonds with all the women, and bringing more storylines than a decade’s worth of telenovelas.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The scammer will pretend to be verified customers and leave reviews for the products that are delivered to unsuspecting residents.
    Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The latest text message attacks making headlines (1,2,3) pretend to be from Amazon.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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