fake 1 of 3

1
2
3
4

fake

2 of 3

noun

fake

3 of 3

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
3
4
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

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 fake active shooter reports came amid a nationwide wave of similar calls targeting universities in recent weeks. Davis Winkie, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025 But Trump himself keeps saying that the economy is in wonderful shape, booming without inflation, and any claims to the contrary are fake news. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
Miller connected with Kevin Jackson for a 14-yard touchdown on the Falcons’ next drive when the wide receiver got behind the defense on a play-action fake as the first quarter ended. Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025 The fakes, sold both as plush figures and plush keychains, are small enough for a child to fit the doll in their mouth and block their airway. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Jokic looked right, faked left, looked right again, then did a 180-degree turn to show Tass his belly. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025 Or the University of Tennessee Knoxville professor who faked canceling class? Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • Authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have warned consumers that counterfeit Labubu are poorly made and may contain small, detachable parts such as eyes, hands, and feet, which present a serious choking hazard to young children.
    Haicen Yang, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
  • An exam by an independent certified jeweler confirmed the watches were counterfeit.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The drugs included protonitazene and metonitazene, two synthetic opioids with respective potencies of 100 and 200 times more powerful than morphine, court documents say.
    David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
  • By transforming ethanol into synthetic oils that can serve as HEFA feedstocks, the company’s technology could diversify and strengthen SAF production.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The conversations, of course, were mock for journalistic purposes.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The piping adds an athletic flair to the mock-neck sweater and sweatpant set, and small slits on the front of the hems add extra interest.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • With Ella Toone or Park in the No 10 role, the former Bayern Munich player will add balance in a double pivot alongside Hinata Miyazawa allowing United more control in midfield.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The Royals’ defense erased a potential rally in the fourth inning after Cameron surrendered a double to Rengifo and walked first baseman Oswald Peraza.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Air Force took this case seriously under Project Blue Book, officially classifying it as ‘unexplained’ after finding no evidence of a hoax.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
  • This is not a hoax, Marina Lacerda, another of the survivors, said.
    Emily Goodin, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Julie and Todd were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud in June 2022, while Julie was also found guilty of wire fraud.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The election is complicated by the fact that Brown faces felony fraud charges.
    Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And the Assembly class of 1990 forged close friendships across party lines that endure 35 years later.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Ben Hania counters that silence, not with an explicit argument but with an experience, a movie forged in the universal and very specific language of the single-location thriller.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But that injury was balanced out by years of creative play that kept my kids climbing, pretending, and running around with friends independently.
    Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Many businesses closing in Urfa were previously non-production businesses, established at zero cost with government incentives, used as warehouses while pretending to operate, and then declared bankrupt.
    Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!