fakir

noun

Definition of fakirnext
1
as in dodger
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value a traveling carnival that was run by fakirs preying on small-town rubes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in sham
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise a fakir peddling patent medicines that were mostly liquor and sugar

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fakir Almost a fakir, a legend like that. — Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026 Bankman-Fried has refined the persona of a dishevelled, savantlike techno-fakir. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 To be fair, the new nationalists have done their best, explicitly and repeatedly, to distance their emerging movement from white nationalists, alt-right fakirs, strident isolationists, and other assorted cranks. — John Hood, National Review, 28 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fakir
  1. dodger
  2. sham
  3. cheat
  4. fake
  5. shark
  6. pretender
  7. fraud
  8. charlatan
Noun
  • Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2026
Definition of dodger
Noun
  • The set comes with two pillow shams, which, in addition to the quilt, feature a coin pattern that adds texture to your bed.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Shop it with the matching shams, or mix it with classic stripes for a personal touch.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of sham
Noun
  • Sometimes, the fourth-grader asks Robo-Dad for Minecraft cheats.
    — Ella Chakarian, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2026
  • And then Bobby is just a cheat code for comedy writers.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 June 2026
Definition of cheat
Noun
  • The model can spot obvious fakes, but Fleek also runs quality-check centers in Karachi and Delhi that inspect items from brands and categories its data has flagged as frequently counterfeited.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 July 2026
  • Deep fakes are the new norm, and their spread is being done automatically.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 July 2026
Definition of fake
Noun
  • Catcher Dalton Rushing held his hand up to his forehead like a shark fin.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Their research helped establish the California Shark Beach Safety Program in 2018, and their work at Torrey Pines specifically has shaped how researchers understand the way environmental conditions affect how sharks use this beach.
    — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
Definition of shark
Noun
  • At least one of them will in the coming weeks likely be exposed as a pretender.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
  • To add to the challenge, Brady also left his mark on the latest pretender to his crown.
    — Peter Carline, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of pretender
Noun
  • The New York City Department of Investigation is the city’s independent watchdog agency, which investigates fraud, corruption, misconduct, municipal malfeasance, city employees, contractors, and individuals who do business with the city.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Created under the bipartisan Help America Vote Act to ensure fair, modern elections, the four-member commission now faces vacancies as the administration doubles down on its fraud-prevention agenda and appeals a court defeat.
    — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of fraud
Noun
  • Others estimate that $500 billion in federal spending is diverted by charlatans each year.
    — Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
  • To this day, a portion of the left-wing Democratic elite views Obama as a charlatan who hoodwinked their voters into supporting him.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of charlatan

Browse Nearby Words

faking out
fakir
fakirs
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Cite this Entry

“Fakir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fakir. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fakir

Nglish: Translation of fakir for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fakir

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