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
-
While fake goods have exchanged hands in informal markets since ancient times, the growth of online marketplaces has contributed to the rise in counterfeits because of how easy online shopping and selling have become.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,Paige Tortorelli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025 -
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
Noun
-
In all such cases, experts have worried that, although such disinformation might ultimately be corrected, there might not be sufficient time to get the word out, especially if AI fakes are disseminated very close to a key electoral moment — a kind of last-minute surprise.—
John Wihbey,
Big Think,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The Patriots used motion to set up fakes and trick the Panthers defense, and for the most part, the illusions paid off.—
Mike Kaye
September 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bettany played English poet and writer Geoffrey Chaucer in the medieval action-comedy, which starred Ledger as William Thatcher, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, who forges a new identity for himself as a knight when his master dies.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
-
Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Despite the relief of being safe, the effects of these hoaxes endure.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The contenders, pretenders and everybody in between.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Adjustments will be made, and by November and December, there will be a much clearer picture of who the contenders and pretenders are.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The set includes two shams and is available in eight pattern choices.—
Sheri Kaz,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
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This sheet set also comes with shams, all made from cotton percale for a cool, crisp sleep year-round.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This fan-favorite promotion returns after nearly 10 years away, having been shelved following the exposure of one of the biggest frauds in corporate marketing history.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
-
To tell the truly venomous from the fakers, there are a couple details to help distinguish the two.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Phonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phonies. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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