variants
also phoneys
1
as in counterfeits
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the fancy "emerald" ring turned out to be a phony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frauds
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
the person who performed the liposuction operation was later discovered to be a phony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fakes
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive
the terrorists were able to move around the country using phonied driver's licenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phonies
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
The men who flocked to spring training sites were called scabs, cast as anti-union phonies.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phonies
Noun
-
Each item passes through a multi-step process combining advanced imaging, database cross-references, and final expert verification, a hybrid system that eliminates bias, minimizes error, and safeguards agains increasingly sophisticated counterfeits.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Do carve out a spot for the Mongkok market, with its colorful juxtaposition of souvenirs, food, fashions — beware of counterfeits, though — with live fish and even birds.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Once recruited, victims were allegedly forced to conduct romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and other online frauds targeting victims abroad.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The frauds have grown nearly in lockstep with the growth of the industry.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As with any market, more money means more scammers, and fakes abound — this past fall Sotheby’s cancelled two memorabilia auctions over authenticity concerns.—
Julie Brener Davich,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Each time Ivy's owner, Ryan, draws nearer, the dog fakes him out and bounds away, tail wagging.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The Los Angeles Times reported that similar threats in multiple states, including Georgia, were traced to Russian domains and labeled politically disruptive hoaxes.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
Noun
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These two pretenders reflect an insider debate whose subject is not the existence of the Islamic Republic but the best method of its survival.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The Cult of the Beaver has to fend off pretenders.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pascal forges an ex-studio chief’s knowledge, relationships, and favors into big-budget commercial pictures.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In the Texas Hill Country following the Civil War, 14-year-old Travis is left in charge of the family ranch when his father goes on a long cattle drive and soon forges a reluctant bond with a wandering yellow dog.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But by January, draft copies of the order obtained in a records request by WLRN indicate recommendations from environmentalists have yet to be incorporated.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The project went on to sell more than 10 million copies.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The quilt and shams are also reversible, featuring the same cozy texture on both sides.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Matching toile shams with a rose-and-butterfly motif are a must as well.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phonies. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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