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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Marq Vision was cofounded in 2020 by Mark Lee, a former McKinsey consultant who holds a Doctor of Law from Harvard, to identify counterfeits in online listings using AI.—
Zinnia Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025 -
The complaint shows a slew of products that Twenty One Pilots alleges are counterfeits bearing their trademarks.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Sep. 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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In turn, the Koch brothers supported climate denial think tanks, while Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s Fox News nightly broadcasts worked overtime to convince Americans that both climate change and COVID-19 were hoaxes or that vaccines were ineffective or unsafe.—
Michael E. Mann,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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The apparent hoaxes come amid heightened concern over campus safety following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Crazy as this sport is, all four teams might be pretenders.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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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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The quilt comes with two matching pillow shams for a unified look.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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Certain frauds included requests to share bank details or to pay upfront costs associated with onboarding, such as certification or background check fees.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Attackers also use email to launch ransomware attacks, deliver malware and pursue frauds such as spoof executive requests.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That’s until their cover in California Schemin’ as rapping imposters was blown and the emotional strain of denying their Scottishness and their fractured friendship revealed itself.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Then there are impostors, which are often heartbreaking.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Phonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phonies. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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