variants
also phoney
1
as in fake
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud
a phony watch with a designer logo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bogus
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
she always has this phony smile just before she betrays you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meaningless
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
her concern for our welfare is as phony as all get-out—she just wants to know our business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also phoney
1
as in counterfeit
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the fancy "emerald" ring turned out to be a phony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sham
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 to fake
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of phony
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
Seattle suffers from the same phony accusations hurled at many big cities in America: dangerous, derelict, drugged out.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
The answer is important because being a phony is hard work.
—Larae Quy, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 29 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for phony
Adjective
Among other things, Giannulli and her sister posed on rowing machines for photos that were used to create the phony athletic profiles.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
Seattle suffers from the same phony accusations hurled at many big cities in America: dangerous, derelict, drugged out.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
For a Gen X-er raised on movies that skewered phonies and wannabes, the thought of being a poser was, in the end, far more offensive to his sensibilities than being potentially bland.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
The answer is important because being a phony is hard work.
—Larae Quy, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
What constitutes the crime is to phony up business accounting records to disguise the payments.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 29 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for phony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony
Adjective
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The Broncos lost three fumbles, committed eight penalties, gave up a TD on a fake punt, got burned by big plays and had eight straight drives end without any points.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Aug. 2025
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Some of it is straight-up misinformation, like fake clips of celebrities rescuing people from the Texas floods in July.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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What does the future hold when AI uses stale or bogus information to generate an answer?—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Just look at the bogus allegations made by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, repeated as fact by Democrats in Congress and their allies in the media, that border agents were whipping and abusing migrants.—
Riley Moore,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But looking into the era of AI, the whole concept of the corporate moat may become meaningless.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Such a decision is understandable, as coaches are concerned about players possibly getting injured in what are essentially meaningless games.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Albanese said counterfeits can look remarkably genuine, even to longtime collectors.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
-
This is an area that is increasingly important in the secondary whisky market, as counterfeits become ever-more sophisticated.—
Mark Littler,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This Quince quilt set with two matching shams starts at $110, while a nearly identical option from Pottery Barn starts at $279, with shams sold separately.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Aug. 2025
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The Kremlin declared in fall 2022 that Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions were now part of Russia after referendums widely condemned as a sham.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the tournament’s 11 days (most teams stay longer, arriving roughly one week before the first game), those early mornings and methodical schedules naturally help forge meaningful relationships.—
Zach Powell,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
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Then Raja took a closer look at the proof of delivery paperwork and realized the papers were forged, according to charging documents.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As a part of the settlement, the false electors acknowledged their actions were used in an attempt to overturn an election.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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They were arraigned on Friday in Brockton District Court on one count each of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses, embezzlement, and conspiracy.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This could certainly change if the Rockets land a certain French teenager in this year's draft lottery, but the first half of 2022-23 has assuaged some concerns about the long-term viability of a pseudo-twin-towers in the starting lineup with Jabari Smith flanked by Alperen Şengün.—
Michael Shapiro,
Chron,
15 Jan. 2023
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In a code division scheme, each call is encoded in a random or pseudo-random sequencing, and receivers at the other end are equipped to decode their own calls.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Apr. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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