hoax 1 of 2

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

hoax

2 of 2

verb

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 hoax
Noun
In Los Angeles, a social media hoax spread rumors of immigration checkpoints and raids at a supermarket chain. Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 14 Jan. 2025 The hoax is also similar to those that circulated across the country during Trump’s first presidential term. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
Advertisement How aspiring Indian entrepreneurs and students were hoaxed in the quest for funding The World Startup Convention was originally scheduled for Jan. 14-16., before it was postponed to March 24-26. Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 30 Mar. 2023 Related:Teen jailed after bomb threat hoax AirDropped to American Airlines passengers in El Paso The passenger was traveling with a companion and both were unharmed, though their clothes were soiled with food and wine. Dallas News, 2 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for hoax 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoax
Noun
  • In a report released Wednesday, the office singled out 19 countries that raised concerns of possible movement of counterfeit or pirated drugs.
    Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
  • After several investigative leads ended in dead-ends and counterfeits, a promising tip to the FBI prompted a sting operation that ended in agents recovering the fabled slippers in Minneapolis In July 2018.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In his memoir/self-help book Catching the Big Fish, Lynch called out directors who trick actors into a Method performance.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Cybercriminals set up seemingly legitimate sites that tricked users into downloading malware disguised as harmless software updates.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Travel fakes like this appear to be on the uptick in 2025.
    Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The truth became impossible to distill: Musk's vaunted Community Notes system was like a Band-Aid on a bullet hole, as reports of water shortages — some real, some fake — exploded into partisan blame games.
    Axios, Axios, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Don’t be fooled by its cheery name: Happy Face looks haunting.
    Claire Franken, TVLine, 27 Jan. 2025
  • However, phishing is platform-agnostic, relying on fooling you, the user.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Thankfully, the courts have seen through these shams, and in eighteen days, the jig will finally be up.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The president – former President Trump's nominee for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has called this issue of extremism in the military a sham, suggesting that perhaps some of the efforts to end – to combat extremism are going to end.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned that the texts appear authentic, sometimes linking to legitimate websites to deceive consumers.
    Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Prosecutors said the counterfeit security seals used to deceive customs officials were also shipped to the U.S. from China.
    Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Six months after the murder, Miriam was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder for the car fire incident and several counts of forgery.
    Lindsey Schwartz, ABC News, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Rick Labelle, 37, was arrested Thursday on four counts of third-degree forgery and a single count of first-degree larceny, according to Lt. Ryan Riley of the West Hartford Police Department.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • For a Gen X-er raised on movies that skewered phonies and wannabes, the thought of being a poser was, in the end, far more offensive to his sensibilities than being potentially bland.
    Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
  • The answer is important because being a phony is hard work.
    LaRae Quy, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near hoax

Cite this Entry

“Hoax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoax. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.

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