fake 1 of 4

Definition of fakenext
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fake

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noun (1)

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

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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

fakery

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noun (2)

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 complaint listed examples like Bing Chat citing fake quotes from Steve Forbes’ daughter Moira Forbes and ChatGPT fabricating an NYT article that was never published but ChatGPT claimed linked non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma to consuming orange juice. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 Some fake domains look close enough to fool a fan checking from a phone. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026
Noun
McKenna is extremely shifty with the puck, blending shoulder fakes into his playmaking. Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Like his contemporaries, however, Mayer took for granted that the device was a fake. Ron Cowen, Scientific American, 3 June 2026
Verb
Parker was a mother of two children who faked a pregnancy while in a relationship with Wade Griffin in 2020. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Many fans found the finale of the original Dexter series, wherein Dexter fakes his own death and disappears in Oregon, unsatisfying. Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026
Noun
Amid all the fakery and flimflam of the pre-regulated drug market, the Shaker brand was the best. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 May 2026 Playing some clever game of head-fakery with his adversaries? Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • Merchandise including counterfeit perfumes, Rolex watches, knockoff Knicks apparel, sunglasses, electronics and Labubus were seized, in addition to $145,000 in cash, police said.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • According to the sheriff's office, Major Crimes Detectives responded to the scene to collect evidence, which included several sheets of counterfeit currency.
    Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Vxhinqy Crossbody Phone Strap With a faux leather strap, this universal lanyard is made for travelers who want both comfort and security.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026
  • Mavericks fans staged a faux funeral complete with a casket a day later in front of the Dirk Nowitzki statue outside American Airlines Center.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • After a season of travel, video and phone calls and texts speaking with agents, scouts, coaches, family members and those around these players, here is my final mock draft for the 2026 NHL Draft.
    Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 23 June 2026
  • The mock-neck adds a chic touch, and the color selection is genuinely impressive.
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • And that put him in position to score easily on Tommy Edman’s double to the center-field warning track for the first run of the game.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • Geraldo Perdomo, on second base after a one-out double, raced home trying to score on Corbin Carroll’s single to right.
    Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • By probing his triple role as author, anthropologist and cult leader, the book asks why Americans hunger for seductive spiritual hoaxes.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
  • The Little Rock Zoo briefly stopped admitting visitors on Friday morning while authorities investigating a bomb threat that was found to be a hoax.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • David Vander Meer, 49, was being held at Clark County Detention Center on first-degree murder and insurance fraud charges stemming from the death of his wife, Bernadette, two decades ago.
    Kori McNair, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • According to prosecutors, Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in fraud proceeds, kickbacks and bribes into accounts associated with shell companies in an effort to conceal the source of the money.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Meander through a lush, fairy-worthy tapestry of ivy and narrow pathways forged throughout the B&B's history.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
  • His mother, who came from a somewhat shady family (her father had been part of a coin-forging group whose ringleaders were arrested and beheaded), helped run the inn; his sister was twelve years older.
    Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • While attempting to clean up the bad press, the pair is forced to pretend to be best friends, during which the unlikely pair secretly falls in love.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 June 2026
  • The show only pretends to be organized around romantic couples.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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