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
Julie K Brown, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Roundly condemned as an archaeological hoax by scholars, Inghirami undertook to publish a 1,000-page defense of his forgery.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 10 June 2024
Such criticism has led some police to respond more aggressively to hoax school shooting calls.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Noun
Trump has called recent attention to the case a hoax.
—Julie K Brown, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Roundly condemned as an archaeological hoax by scholars, Inghirami undertook to publish a 1,000-page defense of his forgery.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Doxxed addresses have led to hoax 911 calls that prompted SWAT teams to raid victims’ homes.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 10 June 2024
Such criticism has led some police to respond more aggressively to hoax school shooting calls.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoax
Noun
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Superfakes follows a small-time Chinatown luxury counterfeit dealer who enters a dangerous black-market underworld to fund a life of suburban respectability for her family.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
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While fake goods have exchanged hands in informal markets since ancient times, the growth of online marketplaces has contributed to the rise in counterfeits because of how easy online shopping and selling have become.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,Paige Tortorelli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mulching too early traps heat and tricks plant roots to remain active and produce new growth.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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The barely believable but entirely true story saw gay rights activists trick their way into the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London by dressing plainly and conservatively – one even went as far as dressing as nun, while another donned the garbs of a bishop.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Why fakes — and how to spot them An information vacuum seems to have encouraged imposters.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Nov. 2025
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Over the next three days, authorities say Buzzard appeared to swap wigs, trading fake, honey blonde curls for a darker wig closer to the style Melodee was seen in.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The officials were fooled, ruling it incomplete.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Don’t let the domesticity fool you, however.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In return, the WNBA would argue the decertification is a sham to facilitate antitrust litigation.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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For a bedding refresh, this duvet cover set is available in 26 colors and includes matching shams.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bode’s comment was strictly in reference to the character of the Wizard of Oz, who uses propaganda to manipulate and deceive his subjects in Wicked.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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As Venus enters Scorpio, your love life appears quiet, but appearances can be deceiving!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Pëllumb Petritaj, who oversees many of Shehu’s Albanian properties, was found guilty of using forgery to obtain land on behalf of the Shehu family.—
Lindita Cela,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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The attorney’s office said Owens was indicted on one count of perjury, one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, two counts of taking the identity of another, two counts of forgery, and one count of theft by extortion.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Which, of course, is what happens on newspapers and that’s why all these things sound so phoney.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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Infiniti is asked to play the put-upon daughter of a man-child father, a scared child, a phony among true believers, and eventually, a reluctant killer.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hoax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoax. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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