Synonyms of hoaxes

hoaxes 1 of 2

noun

plural of hoax

as in counterfeits

an imitation that is passed off as genuine

the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax

Synonyms & Similar Words

• counterfeits
• fakes
• forgeries
• reproductions
• copies
• shams
• replicas
• phonies
• synthetics
• spoofs
• humbug
• bastards
• frauds
• copycats
• knockoffs
• impostures
• swindles
• simulations
• facsimiles
• gaffs
• dummies
• mock-ups
• shoddies
• duffers
• brummagems

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• originals

hoaxes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hoax

as in tricks

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

• tricks
• fools
• deceives
• spoofs
• kids
• dupes
• humbugs
• gaffs
• suckers
• misleads
• hoodwinks
• misinforms
• gulls
• deludes
• teases
• stings
• bamboozles
• snows
• strings along
• misguides
• bluffs
• cons
• cheats
• cozens
• fakes out
• sucks in
• juggles
• has on
• hornswoggles
• buffaloes
• beguiles
• burns
• takes in
• catches
• does a number on
• gammons
• snookers
• has
• swindles
• leads one down the garden path
• pulls one's leg
• pulls the wool over one's eyes
• defrauds
• sticks
• puts on
• hustles
• fleeces
• shortchanges
• mulcts
• rooks
• chisels
• bleeds
• flimflams
• diddles
• skins
• euchres
• squeezes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reveals
• debunks
• exposes
• unmasks
• uncovers
• shows up
• undeceives
• tells
• discloses
• divulges
• unveils
• uncloaks
• disillusions
• disabuses
• disenchants

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hoaxes

Noun

America’s penny press transformed journalism in the 1830s, using hoaxes, sensationalism, and mass circulation to create a blueprint for modern media. — Big Think, 4 Aug. 2026

By probing his triple role as author, anthropologist and cult leader, the book asks why Americans hunger for seductive spiritual hoaxes. — Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026

The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 June 2026

That is why this conversation is about far more than celebrity deepfakes or viral internet hoaxes. — Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

The Pepsi-tampering mystery was unraveling today as several claims of objects found in soda cans were pronounced hoaxes. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 17 June 2026

The fact remains that 30 years ago, before the Texas Air National Guard fiasco, among so many other fake-news hoaxes, 60 Minutes had more than 20 million viewers a week. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026

All of the threats, including the one at Zoo Atlanta, turned out to be hoaxes. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 May 2026

Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, has also been the subject of death hoaxes in the past, including in 2018, when a fake article reporting his death circulated online. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026