variants
also phoney
1
as in counterfeit
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 mock
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 fake
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 hoax
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 fraud
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
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
But Donnie ain't phony like Varnell.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Infiniti is asked to play the put-upon daughter of a man-child father, a scared child, a phony among true believers, and eventually, a reluctant killer.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 24 Sep. 2025
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
Investigators said the vehicle had phony license plates.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
But Donnie ain't phony like Varnell.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Which, of course, is what happens on newspapers and that’s why all these things sound so phoney.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Infiniti is asked to play the put-upon daughter of a man-child father, a scared child, a phony among true believers, and eventually, a reluctant killer.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 24 Sep. 2025
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
-
Authorities also seized nearly $40 million in counterfeit sports merchandise ahead of last year's Super Bowl.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Lamar was responding to the trade group’s latest brand protection report, released with the support of quality assurance firm Intertek and building on a 2022 study that found dangerous levels of hazardous chemicals in more than one-third of the nearly 50 counterfeit products tested.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Thai troops uncovered a sprawling scam complex in Cambodia where international fraud rings used mock police stations and bank replicas to deceive billions of victims globally.—
Sakchai Lalit,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Stewart reacted in mock offense.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Authorities made an arrest after a ransom note turned out to be fake, the sheriff said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
DaLuise’s attorney Jamon Hicks says his team went through about 600 texts on her phone and didn't find any evidence of her being involved in a harassment hoax.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
-
At first, the ceremony — performed publicly before the entire parish — seems like a hoax.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The video, shared on Truth Social, also included unsubstantiated voter fraud allegations.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Today, the movement is remembered less for enlightenment and more for its crimes – including massive immigration fraud and a mass food poisoning in Oregon in 1984, the largest bioterror attack on American soil.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There is a kind of brotherhood forged between people who work in the shadow world.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Razieh and Mahtab had forged a bond in prison over their love of literature.—
Azar Nafisi,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The racist imagery is strategically embedded within a larger narrative promoting false election fraud conspiracy theories, designed to dehumanize Black and brown voters as threats to democracy and to justify restricting their participation in elections.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Iranian shadow fleet consists of tankers and associated companies that operate outside normal commercial channels, often using false identities, ship-to-ship transfers, and deceptive documentation to hide Iranian crude and refined products.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Then the breathing, strained and short-winded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Consumer spending is being driven by wealthier households who tend have money in stocks and have seen their investments rise in value, while people who rely on paychecks for their income are feeling strained by a lack of affordability.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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