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
James Boyd, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
This is the part of the season when the real teams separate themselves from the phonies, and right now the Colts look fraudulent.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
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
-
The frauds have grown nearly in lockstep with the growth of the industry.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
-
There is absolutely no evidence that frauds of this type or anywhere near this scale are happening in any of the other four states, or frankly that there is a large volume of as-yet-undiscovered fraud in Minnesota itself.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 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
-
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
-
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Cult of the Beaver has to fend off pretenders.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Momentum hardens, vulnerabilities are exposed and the gap between contenders and pretenders is out in the open.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Symson acknowledged the need for consolidation as the industry forges ahead into a new era.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The collision of opposing perspectives forges art that challenges and confronts, that forces us out of familiar ways of thinking, relating and being.—
Richard P. Weigand,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her diary has sold more than a million copies since its 1960 publication, according to a website dedicated to de Jesus run by the prestigious museum Instituto Moreira Salles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Becoming a pop culture staple since its 2004 launch, Ticket to Ride has sold over 20 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The set comes with matching pillow shams in every size for a simple bedroom refresh at a budget-friendly price.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Sarah Sherman Samuel transforms high-quality hemp bedding with a tiger illustration—drawn by her son, no less—to make a set of shams perfect for elevating your bedding set with custom-like details.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phonies. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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