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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of phony
Cezary Podkul, ProPublica, 25 June 2025
At the end of 2022, Cardi B responded to the leak of purported (and ultimately phony) new material with a short clip of an unidentified, unreleased track.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2025
Chris Westfall, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
Romney had been one of Trump’s most strident critics in the 2016 election, calling him a phony and a fraud.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 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
Some of the businesses gave phony addresses, such as a vacant home.
—Cezary Podkul, ProPublica, 25 June 2025
At the end of 2022, Cardi B responded to the leak of purported (and ultimately phony) new material with a short clip of an unidentified, unreleased track.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2025
Noun
When top deepfake detectors only catch the phonies 75% of the time, according to reports, being vigilant against fraud is vital.
—Chris Westfall, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
Romney had been one of Trump’s most strident critics in the 2016 election, calling him a phony and a fraud.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 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
-
There’s a massive global scam operation that uses real payment methods on fake checkout pages.—
Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
-
Additional increases in the quantity and quality of weapons sent to Ukraine would underpin that message and would have a better chance than anything else of persuading Putin to replace fake negotiations with the real thing.—
The Editors,
National Review,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
According to court documents and several former Elkhart officers, their aggressive tactics here targeted citizens, especially Black residents, with harassment, unjustified force and bogus arrests.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 July 2025
-
An indictment accused Singh and others of using his business, MDP Products and Services, Inc., to file over $14.1 million in bogus claims to Medicare between 2022 and 2023.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
The most likely candidates for an add would be the 2024 seventh-round pick Hanson or Driskell, but neither had an offensive snap last season outside of the team’s meaningless week 18 game against Denver.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2025
-
Choose one, and land in a place that reduces the number of meaningless games for a conference that plays more Group of Five and FCS cupcakes than any other Power Four league.—
Blake Toppmeyer,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
But the errors on the alleged counterfeits aren’t the only reason that Levi’s believes PBG carried out its actions willfully and with knowledge.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
8 May 2025
-
The department said that U.S. consumers spend more than $100 billion every year on knock off goods, falling victim to approximately 20% of the counterfeits that are illegally sold worldwide.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
All sets come with two matching pillow shams to complete your bedroom look.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 July 2025
-
The basics that all comforter sets include are the comforter and one pillow sham, with some sets including an extra sham.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Those helming businesses are required to make a crucial call about staying the course amid uncertainty or forging a brave, new path.—
Naazneen Karmali,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
Combs founded Bad Boy Records in 1993 and forged a roster of stars that jettisoned hip-hop into the mainstream, including the late Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Faith Evans and the groups 112 and Total, among others.—
Curtis Bunn,
NBC news,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report said that driver also made a false report related to hours of service.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 July 2025
-
His claims are false and do not reflect accountability for the impact of his actions on the community.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
3 July 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
-
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 16 Jul. 2025.
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