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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word humbug different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of humbug are counterfeit, fake, fraud, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When would counterfeit be a good substitute for humbug?

Although the words counterfeit and humbug have much in common, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When might fake be a better fit than humbug?

The synonyms fake and humbug are sometimes interchangeable, but fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When can fraud be used instead of humbug?

The words fraud and humbug are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When could imposture be used to replace humbug?

The words imposture and humbug can be used in similar contexts, but imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

When is sham a more appropriate choice than humbug?

While in some cases nearly identical to humbug, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of humbug
Noun
Plump four-poster beds are covered in rich floral fabrics or set against wallpaper patterned like humbugs. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2023 Mean One features David Howard Thornton, known for playing Art the Clown in the Terrifier movies, as a familiar-looking green-skinned humbug in a Santa suit, living on a mountain high above the small town town of Newville. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023
Verb
In its verb form, to be humbugged is to be deceived or be the victim of a hoax. Elizabeth Wolfe and Douglas S. Wood, CNN, 21 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for humbug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbug
Noun
  • Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
  • These guys came into my office, told me that there was nothing to the Russia hoax in February of 2017.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Packers gonna Packers, but at least Doubs is clear of that nonsense.
    Jess Bryant, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Assembly Bill 325 is economically illiterate nonsense that attempts to ban the use of pricing algorithms that help businesses determine prices.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The law lowers daily transaction minimums, increases warnings on the kiosks, requires transaction receipts and requires Bitcoin ATM operators to issue refunds to victims of fraud, the release states.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Other senior officials opted to leave, including the bureau’s top fraud expert, cryptanalyst and skyjacking expert, and the head of its Crime Information Center.
    Douglas M. Charles, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors told the court the scheme had raised at least $650 million and called it a classic Ponzi structure that fooled even Horwitz’s closest friends.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Don’t let their elegant fancy-restaurant flavors fool you.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The crime drama follows a small-time Chinatown luxury counterfeit dealer who enters a dangerous black-market underworld in order to fund a life of suburban respectability for her family.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
  • While fake goods have exchanged hands in informal markets since ancient times, the growth of online marketplaces has contributed to the rise in counterfeits because of how easy online shopping and selling have become.
    Gabrielle Fonrouge,Paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Just one or two nuts can cover your daily needs.
    Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Spoon any topping and nuts in pan onto loaf.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • An entry-level sheet set from the brand will run you a minimum of $500 with the priciest shams ringing in at a cool $5,000.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Sep. 2025
  • In another study, people with migraines who used a handheld VNS device (gammaCore) on the side of their neck were significantly more likely to be pain-free within 30 minutes to an hour of VNS, compared to those receiving a sham (placebo) treatment.
    Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But in addition to his reputation as a womanizer, Casanova was also a con man, a skilled liar who came from a family of actors and who over the course of his life manipulated and tricked countless people to maintain wealth and status.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Malware has evolved to target macOS more aggressively than ever and many attacks now rely on tricking users rather than breaking through security software.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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