Synonyms of hoax

hoax 1 of 2

noun

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

• counterfeit
• fake
• sham
• forgery
• phony
• copy
• reproduction
• replica
• spoof
• synthetic
• humbug
• bastard
• copycat
• swindle
• knockoff
• simulation
• fraud
• imposture
• facsimile
• dummy
• gaff
• mock-up
• shoddy
• duffer
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• original

hoax

2 of 2

verb

ˈhōks 

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

• trick
• fool
• deceive
• spoof
• mislead
• dupe
• humbug
• tease
• kid
• sucker
• delude
• con
• misinform
• bluff
• gull
• gaff
• suck in
• snow
• cheat
• hoodwink
• bamboozle
• sting
• misguide
• string along
• buffalo
• hornswoggle
• fake out
• burn
• have on
• juggle
• cozen
• gammon
• beguile
• catch
• take in
• snooker
• do a number on
• lead one down the garden path
• have
• swindle
• pull one's leg
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• defraud
• put on
• stick
• flimflam
• fleece
• shortchange
• skin
• hustle
• bleed
• euchre
• rook
• mulct
• diddle
• chisel
• squeeze

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• reveal
• debunk
• expose
• show up
• unmask
• uncover
• tell
• disclose
• divulge
• unveil
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disabuse
• disenchant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hoax

Noun

After roughly two days of investigation, police informed the public the entire panic was driven by a hoax. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The rapid spread of Ebola has been aided from the onset by widespread skepticism among locals who have dismissed the disease as a hoax, even attacking health workers and health facilities on multiple occasions. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 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