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hoax 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hoaxnext
as in counterfeit
an imitation that is passed off as genuine the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hoax

2 of 2

verb

ˈhōks How to pronounce hoax (audio)
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

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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 hoax
Noun
Wheatland police later described the incident as a hoax and said the department and Yuba County Sheriff’s Office were investigating its source. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 While Locke failed in that regard, his articles live on as one of the most famous media hoaxes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
In February, a California teenager pleaded guilty to hoax shooting and bomb threats against schools and other institutions and was sentenced to four years in federal prison on four counts of making interstate threats. — Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 28 Aug. 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
  1. counterfeit
  2. trick
  3. fake
  4. fool
  5. sham
  6. deceive
  7. forgery
  8. phony
Noun
  • The distinction between authentic and counterfeit is becoming increasingly difficult to discern.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The European Commission previously said AliExpress breached its obligations under the DSA, which required it to diligently assess and mitigate the risks of counterfeits.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 22 July 2026
Definition of counterfeit
Verb
  • The North Koreans will then trick victims to install the malware under the guise of completing a computer coding test or troubleshooting an error in an online video call.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Light pollution from various sources in our bedroom can trick the brain into producing less melatonin, which can negatively impact sleep quality.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • For the fake Broom image, the Georgia Tech expert noted the people in the background of both photos (the real and the fake) were in the exact same positions, and the image of a football game on a TV is the same.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Green Bay came right back when Love threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Watson on a play-action fake.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of fake
Verb
  • The second season of The Paper is a sitcom trying to fool itself.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In July, OpenAI said its models were responsible for a cyber incident on another company, while Anthropic’s Claude models were also responsible for cybersecurity incidents, including in one case where Mythos created fake identities to fool humans.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • The five-piece set includes a plush comforter, throw blanket, shams, and a decorative pillow for calming cohesion, and comes in rich neutrals like creamy beige, midnight blue, and toasty brown.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But investigators now say his story was a sham and that behind closed doors, the assistant fire chief was allegedly living a double life.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sham
Verb
  • Trump dismisses warnings Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SpaceXAI’s Elon Musk have all called for greater government oversight of the industry after a series of hacks revealed AI agents conspiring to deceive humans.
    — Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The Bucs couldn’t ask for a better bounce-back opponent after dropping their opener in Cincy, a somewhat deceiving result because of all the Baker Mayfield turnovers.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of deceive
Noun
  • But after his son Eugene Horsch, 44, was arrested in June on charges involving unlawful firearms and forgery, police made a series of unsettling discoveries at the family home on Chew Avenue in Philly's Olney neighborhood.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Months later, Pietras was arrested by the Coventry Police Department and charged with 22 counts of selling a funeral service contract with intent to defraud, 11 counts of second-degree larceny by embezzlement and one count of second-degree forgery.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of forgery
Noun
  • In 2024, for example, one phony GoFundMe page was later shut down after collecting more than $15,000 in light of a late Saturday afternoon shooting that left nine people injured at a Rochester Hills splash pad.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Haley did her a favor by being brutally honest instead of lying and being a phony.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of phony

Browse Nearby Words

hoary
hoax
hoaxed
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Cite this Entry

“Hoax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoax. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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