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 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 Great fake out by the production team as Savannah then surprised everyone (and maybe even herself) by winning. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025 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
  • These fraudulent sites often mimic legitimate stores or rank high in search results, tricking desperate consumers into buying non-existent AC units.
    — Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The revenge story saw Tucker's exes convincing Snow's Kate to trick the ladies' man into falling in love with her.
    — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Prosecutors alleged the companies disguised Chinese aluminum extrusions as pallets to evade antidumping and countervailing duties.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • He was detained on August 8, 2025, and charged with DUI, evading arrest with a vehicle, and fleeing from police, according to ICE.
    — Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of evade
Verb
  • You may be fooled into joining a brokerage with high fees, poor investment options or other red flags.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Jairzinho, Brazil vs Italy, 1970 Jairzinho steals in to give Brazil a two-goal lead with 20 minutes left, controlling the ball with his thigh and then failing to connect with his finish, which is enough to fool goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • Pissenem decided to fake an alien sighting over the Mediterranean.
    — Max Marshall, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026
  • When Bella unexpectedly dies, Ricky fakes his own death and runs off into the woods, forcing Hector to track him down.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
Definition of fake
Verb
  • Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring with a spectacular cross-shot that deceived Jordan Pickford and, although Jude Bellingham struck back for England in first-half stoppage time, Norway looked the more likely winners as the second period wore on.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Only after this second handover did my father realize he had been deceived.
    — Ari Maas, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • The small fragments of colorful glass, strung along together, produce soothing sounds, their tinkling notes wafting through the air alongside a chorus of windchimes and the sweet scent of plumeria blooming in the garden.
    — Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
  • There’s a reason they’re strung along restaurant patios and hung for wedding receptions.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Definition of string along
Verb
  • But in the crowded and stressful rush of everyday life, they will get sucked in.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • But before it’s sucked in, some of it gets blown back by winds created by the black hole’s intense pressure and friction.
    — Mary Ogborn, The Conversation, 25 June 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 18 Jul. 2026.

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