fake out

verb

Definition of fake outnext
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

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 out Asked about the fake out, Mara grinned. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026 After the match, Kidd and Finlay, along with Clark Connors, attack Cassidy and Allin until Roderick Strong walks down to the ring, fakes out The Dogs and helps Cassidy and Allin get retribution. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026 In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders. — ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026 Drake preferred to fake out a defender and run right by them. — Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fake out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake out
  1. trick
  2. evade
  3. fool
  4. fake
  5. deceive
  6. string along
  7. suck in
Verb
  • RatHat relies heavily on tricking someone into installing a malicious Android app and approving powerful permissions.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In 1943, the British intelligence service, MI6, came up with a wacky strategy to trick Adolf Hitler into thinking the Allies planned to invade Greece and Sardinia (not true) instead of Sicily (true), which Nazi Germany was heavily defending.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • The decision by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI follows a raft of reports in recent months about AI agents behaving in unexpected ways, evading human guardrails or otherwise going rogue.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • He was issued felony citations on suspicion of burglary, evading police, driving more than 100 mph, hit-and-run, obstruction and resisting, reckless driving and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of evade
Verb
  • Trey Owens fooled the TCU defense with a 34-yard keeper on third-and-1 to get inside the 10-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The second season of The Paper is a sitcom trying to fool itself.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • Because if Sparrow went exactly according to plan, the Allies wouldn’t just fake an anti-Nazi invasion of Hungary but actually trigger one.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Fooling hapless web surfers into giving away their credentials by faking secure websites is easy, by comparison.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fake
Verb
  • While self-driving cars learn from static obstacles, fraud models must navigate environments where every variable is actively attempting to deceive the system.
    — Wayne Hamilton, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Pitinan Packable Rain Jacket With Hood, $27 Packing for a short weekend getaway is deceiving.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • For one thing, the aircraft was an all-electric number powered by a dozen electric motors strung along the leading edge of the wing.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But by Taiwan’s next presidential election in 2028, 12 years will have passed since that strategy was last tested—and the gamble is whether Xi can still be strung along.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of string along
Verb
  • Young people who get addicted to social media get sucked in and lose track of time, Greenberg said, similar to adults.
    — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Grow up and start worrying more about not sucking in Yankee Stadium.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of suck in

Browse Nearby Words

faked out
fake out
faker
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Cite this Entry

“Fake out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake%20out. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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