as in counterfeit
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
a skilled forger who hoaxed the art world into believing that the paintings were long-lost Vermeers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hoax
ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
This is a Democrat hoax that never ends.
—NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
The Hill, 25 July 2025
The Jussie Smollett hoax hate crime attack saga is set to be explored in a new documentary.
—Peter White, Deadline, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Noun
So, this is a Democrat hoax that never ends.
—ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
This is a Democrat hoax that never ends.
—NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
Robby Soave delivers radar on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard suggesting that President Obama’s administration orchestrated Russiagate collusion hoax in 2016.
—The Hill, 25 July 2025
The Jussie Smollett hoax hate crime attack saga is set to be explored in a new documentary.
—Peter White, Deadline, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoax
Noun
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Court records show Walshe pleaded guilty in 2021 to wire fraud after selling counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings online.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Dec. 2025
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Do carve out a spot for the Mongkok market, with its colorful juxtaposition of souvenirs, food, fashions — beware of counterfeits, though — with live fish and even birds.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The show’s original pair of fathers, who secretly trick their children into falling in love by pretending to be in a feud, will instead be mothers.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Fake pop-ups and lookalike websites are designed to trick people into typing usernames and passwords by hand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That first episode is a clever fake-out.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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The collectibles market is flooded with fakes.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Don't be fooled by an ocean that looks calm.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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To Newton, the saga was a reminder of how, in the age of increasingly sophisticated and accessible generative AI, anyone online can easily and quickly fool even the most discerning content consumers.—
Lauren Wilson,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Both the pillow shams and bedding are made with a comfy cotton blend.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
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All of us know this is a sham and a shame.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sextortion, a scheme where victims are deceived into sending online perpetrators explicit images and then blackmailed in exchange for money or additional graphic content, has affected thousands of teens in recent years and led to multiple suicide deaths.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
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Fortunately, the American public is much more informed and less likely to be deceived by the meat and dairy industry than in 1977.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In 2006, a joint investigation run by the FBI and IRS – Operation Bullpen – busted a nationwide forgery ring that defrauded collectors of more than $100 million, and just last year, an Indiana man admitted to selling some $350 million worth of fake gear over the span of 20 years.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
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Morrisseau’s work, in particular, was the focus of what is believed to be the largest forgery ring of all time, in which several thousand fakes were illegitimately authenticated and sold around the world.—
Benjamin Cannon,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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To be seen as a poseur or a phony—a person who affects rather than is—violates some nebulous code of acceptable self-cultivation.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
2 Dec. 2025
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This is the part of the season when the real teams separate themselves from the phonies, and right now the Colts look fraudulent.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hoax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoax. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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