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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
Packed with familiar romance tropes like fake dating and only one bed, Slipstream is sure to satisfy romance lovers and F1 fans alike. Amy James, People.com, 28 June 2025 The comrades and the fellow travelers are still churning out their very fake news, but the Big Lie doesn’t work anymore. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 June 2025
Noun
Another drawback to resale is the risk of purchasing a fake. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 17 June 2025 Unfortunately, the promise of a once-in-a-lifetime prize proved to be a fake. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025
Verb
It’s set during the Judo World Championships, when Iranian Leila and her coach Maryam receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 June 2025 The 6-foot-9 forward’s go-to move was starting with his back about 10 to 12 feet from the basket before faking one way and unleashing a spin-around jumper. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • The Comité records all transactions, track the movement, manages the reserve and protects the appellation against counterfeit products.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • In 2024, the DEA seized more than 60 million counterfeit pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder nationwide — enough to deliver more than 380 million lethal doses.
    Mark Michalek, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • In Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to ban synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, forcing millions of Sri Lanka’s farmers to go organic.
    Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • What interests Johnstone here is how biological and synthetic beings blend together.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Undersized at 6-foot-2, but a strong and explosive 215 pounds, Martin’s role in the Gators’ national championship success along with strong workouts for NBA teams placed him in the second round of many mock drafts.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
  • Most analysts agree that Michael Misa, C, will be the No. 2 overall selection, but from pick No. 3 onward, mock drafts diverge sharply.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • After a crew chief review, it was ruled a double, giving the Mets a 7-4 lead.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 June 2025
  • Scheffler managed to make birdie, but the damage to his round had already been done with a triple-bogey 7 on the first hole, another bogey on No. 4 and a double on No. 8.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • The hoax of further democratizing what was always implicitly democratic relies on sham logic.
    Armond White, National Review, 27 June 2025
  • The Balloon Boy hoax would seem to have all the right elements for a revisitation: a hapless, alleged victim (6-year-old Falcon Heene), sky-high danger (the balloon reached about 7,000 feet), daringly duplicitous parents (Richard and Mayumi Heene), and a national profile that gripped audiences.
    John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • That they are aimed at reducing abuse, waste and fraud.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Last month, Kubler was indicted by the Justice Department on charges of securities fraud and money laundering.
    Sydney Sasser, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • True market leadership isn’t built during stable times—it’s forged through uncertainty.
    Padmakumar Nair, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • Yet when the Obama Administration managed to forge a nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Netanyahu denounced it as weak.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • The show then cut over to a Good Morning America clip that sees Haines pretend to faint when the superhero swings into frame.
    Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 26 June 2025
  • Have you ever been contacted by someone pretending to be Elon Musk?
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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