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 fakes
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 forges
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phonies
Noun
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The non-profit said more oversight could help other counterfeits from entering the country in the future.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Aug. 2025 -
Zhang said more companies may face lawsuits from Pop Mart over Lafufus, but counterfeits might also decrease as Pop Mart ramps up its production.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Yet the dolls and their fakes continue to be sold in large quantities both domestically and overseas.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
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Collectors can usually spot fakes by telltale signs like overly bright colors, missing holographic Pop Mart stickers, or the wrong number of teeth.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nosferatu Desperate for connection, young lonely Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) unwittingly forges a spiritual bond with Count Olork, Nosferatu (Bill Skarsgård), in the early 1800s.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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Fiddelke can do the same, if willing, to address glaring value chain pain points, demonstrate how AI forges strategic edge rather than curing operating metrics, protect digital strategists from noisy, operational IT concerns, and insist upon meaningful results accountability.—
Noah Barsky,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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These hoaxes tax the resources of police departments and put an unquantifiable mental strain on the victims, ratcheting up the importance of putting a stop to them.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
1 Sep. 2025
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The bureau warned that these hoaxes not only waste law enforcement time and resources but also endanger lives.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But the Bolts don't have enough pieces to go from pretenders to contenders.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Exclusivo Mezcla Reversible Lightweight Quilt Set The Exclusivo Mezcla Quilt Bedding Set includes a reversible quilt and two matching pillow shams to tie the look together.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
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Pottery Barn offers matching shams with zipper closures, and both the quilt and shams are available on sale.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Leaving aside outright frauds, pay-for-play exists on a spectrum of cost and legitimacy.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
26 Aug. 2025
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And never give up the kind of personal information that is beyond the scope of a simple quote for a service, scammers look to use this to perpetuate other frauds and attacks.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Attackers can easily generate convincing digital impostors that fool people and biometric systems.—
Brian Greenberg,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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There are currently imposters even pretending to represent the FTC itself.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
20 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Phonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phonies. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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