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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Although investigators received many tips, some were hoaxes and others didn’t lead to any developments.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
From online hoaxes about wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii to Russian and extremist propaganda during Hurricane Helene, information manipulation is warping responses to climate change and extreme weather.
—Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
District officials in multiple regions noted the threats appeared to match similar hoaxes reported in recent weeks statewide and across the country.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Feb. 2026
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Although investigators received many tips, some were hoaxes and others didn’t lead to any developments.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
From online hoaxes about wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii to Russian and extremist propaganda during Hurricane Helene, information manipulation is warping responses to climate change and extreme weather.
—Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
District officials in multiple regions noted the threats appeared to match similar hoaxes reported in recent weeks statewide and across the country.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Feb. 2026
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoaxes
Noun
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Unprosecuted crimes against the public — such as the widespread sale of 78-cent postage stamps for 19 cents to 59 cents, rolls of 100, counterfeits all, for years online.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Its expert team enforces strict production rules, promotes the brand globally, fights counterfeits and certifies every wheel.—
Antonia Mortensen,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
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One possible danger is a rogue network that tricks people into joining.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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San Diego startup Neomorph on Monday announced a new $100 million investment for its molecular glue that tricks cancer cells into self-destructing.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some of the most damaging fakes get through because nobody on the defense side knew to challenge them.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
-
Once word got out about the reports in Ohio, so did the obvious fakes.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
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What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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One of New York’s oldest and most esteemed commercial galleries, Knoedler closed down in 2011 amid allegations of profiting from forgeries of paintings by Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and others.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The forgeries’ provenance traced their passage through Italian auction houses and exposed a multinational network of suppliers.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Although trademarks protect against similar reproductions that can confuse consumers, they’re not meant to be utilized as a catch-all protecting every feature of a performer’s brand.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
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The world of Busytown, the whimsical universe created by Scarry, has also found a new audience thanks to Inciardi Prints' beautiful tiny reproductions available through Ana Inciardi's Mini Print Vending Machines.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And their descendants, which often go on to lose those extra chromosome copies, retain evidence in their DNA of the ancient duplication event that helped their lineage survive.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
19 May 2026
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Miller will sign copies of the book after the program; copies are for sale at the Clinton Museum Store.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoaxes. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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