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

Schools banned its use, and journalists were shamed for credulously repeating its hoaxes. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says those threats were likely swatting hoaxes. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Certain corners of the web promote hoaxes and hate speech and reputational sabotage. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026

While Locke failed in that regard, his articles live on as one of the most famous media hoaxes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026

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