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
-
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
-
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
-
Well, at least Cindy's been fighting the good fight, which Brenda tricks her into waging alone every time.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
-
One possible danger is a rogue network that tricks people into joining.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Thirty-four years having passed since the last go-round, we are treated to such modern advances as catfishing, drones, deep fakes, social media and pushy true-crime podcasters.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
McKenna is extremely shifty with the puck, blending shoulder fakes into his playmaking.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Runway, Pika, and a dozen others can produce footage that fools the eye on first watch.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His work was the subject of many forgeries, but Naranjo showed them grace.—
Sarah Moreno
May 22,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
-
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
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
-
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
-
Early in the movie, failed architect and failing furniture-store owner Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discovers a portal into a seemingly endless, unpopulated liminal space filled with distorted reproductions of real-world rooms, objects, and even whole neighborhoods.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Rooms are done in rich fabrics in warm earth tones and dressed up with elements of local design, such as reproductions of Pavel Janak’s angular Cubist timber chairs and elegant chaise longues from designer Adolf Loos.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Multiple copies of Howl, Kaddish, and assembled collections of complete verse lined (and still line) my bookshelves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Save every record Keep copies of any letters, account notices, bills, screenshots or emails tied to the fraud.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoaxes. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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