Thesaurus

humbug

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

noun

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Synonyms & Antonyms of humbug

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 an imitation that is passed off as genuine

tests showed that the "old" map of America was a cleverly made humbug

Synonyms for humbug

Words Related to humbug

Near Antonyms for humbug

original

2 language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense

those UFO stories are a lot of humbug

Synonyms for humbug

Words Related to humbug

Near Antonyms for humbug

3 one who makes false claims of identity or expertise

one humbug after another claimed to be the miraculously surviving daughter of the Russian czar

Synonyms for humbug

Words Related to humbug

poseur

Near Antonyms for humbug

humbug

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms of humbug (Entry 2 of 2)

to cause to believe what is untrue

humbugged into believing that the bones were the skeleton of a prehistoric human being

Synonyms for humbug

Words Related to humbug

Phrases Synonymous with humbug

Near Antonyms for humbug

Antonyms for humbug

undeceive

Frequently Asked Questions About humbug

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