1
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
my friends faked me out for a whole day, letting me think that they had forgotten my birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement
used a quick between-the-legs dribble to fake out the flat-footed defender
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fake out
Among the highlights was Dart taking off in the first quarter, faking out several Eagles defenders, and running to the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown.
—
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Old Dominion started fast, with quarterback Colton Joseph faking out the Hoosiers defense on the first offensive play of the game and sprinting 75 yards for a touchdown.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
The plan is to fake out territorial wasps who will avoid an area where other wasps already reside.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025
Instead, Baty double-clutched as if trying to fake out Smith.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fake out
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Old Dominion started fast, with quarterback Colton Joseph faking out the Hoosiers defense on the first offensive play of the game and sprinting 75 yards for a touchdown.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
The plan is to fake out territorial wasps who will avoid an area where other wasps already reside.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2025
Instead, Baty double-clutched as if trying to fake out Smith.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fake out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake out
Verb
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After being tricked by Scarpia, Cavaradossi is hanged for treason.—
Courtney Lewis,
Florida Times-Union,
28 Mar. 2026
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Ever since the first caveman tricked his neighbor into trading a pile of rocks for some tasty mastodon steaks, con men have been persuading others to act against their own interests.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the 72nd minute, Dudinha, who finished with two assists, stole the ball from Chicago and passed it to Barcenas, who, while moving to her left, delivered a brilliant backheel to her right to evade two defenders.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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To evade interference from electronic jammers, both militaries launch drones attached to miles-long spools of fiber-optic wire - leaving behind a digital spider's web.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Don't be fooled, Fraser's first Oberon kegs of the season still went to good use, with Oberon Day bringing in serious business.—
Jack Springgate,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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In 2007, Google fooled the world with 'Google Paper,' a service that would print your emails and mail them to you.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After faking the shot, Pastrnak fed Arvidsson for the one-timer.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Siegenthaler faked a shot from the high slot and slid a pass to Jack Hughes in the right circle, where his one timer deflected off Bratt.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) that allows two challenges per team — losing them only when incorrect — at least holds the plate umpire accountable when his eyes deceive him.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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Svetlana Petriychuk wrote the play Finist, the Brave Falcon, based on real events, about Russian women deceived into marrying ISIS fighters and traveling to Syria.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Above them, flags from Latin American countries are strung along the ceiling.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
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The new version will ultimately feature twice as many lights, with half of them strung along the interior sides of the cables facing Oakland.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Air travelers across the country have been suck in longer-than-usual lines in recent weeks.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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The easy availability means that people who otherwise might not have been tempted have gotten sucked in.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fake out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake%20out. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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