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
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 May 2026
But the board has allowed dozens of others accused of buying phony diplomas and banned from working in other states to keep their Florida licenses, the records show.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Which, of course, is what happens on newspapers and that’s why all these things sound so phoney.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for phony
Adjective
Nebraskans are set to vote in the most unusual Senate primary campaign of the year on May 12, with Republicans and Democrats accusing each other of trying to confuse voters with phony candidates.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 May 2026
But the board has allowed dozens of others accused of buying phony diplomas and banned from working in other states to keep their Florida licenses, the records show.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Noun
In retaliation, Sir Jimmy outs Kelson as a phony with a fatal stab to the gut, though that’s not enough to save his own life.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Which, of course, is what happens on newspapers and that’s why all these things sound so phoney.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 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
See All Example Sentences for phony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony
Adjective
-
Prosecutors alleged Roberts knowingly lacked employment authorization for nearly all of his two-decade career in urban education and submitted a counterfeit Social Security card when he was hired as superintendent of the Des Moines public school district, which serves 30,000 students.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin then told CBS in May that ICE would be focused on counterfeit products, particularly tickets and clothing.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Merlin Pilot system handles much more than a traditional autopilot, using a natural language processing model to listen to instructions from a mock air traffic controller and responding over the radio using a computerized female voice.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
-
According to those reports, Pakistan Air Force J-10CE fighter jets faced Qatar’s Eurofighter Typhoons in a series of mock aerial engagements and emerged undefeated.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the show, shy Briar U music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and cocky team captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) begin fake-dating to try to catch the attention of Hannah’s crush.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
-
The schemes involve the use of fake court documents regarding false traffic and criminal infractions.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Distrust and violence flare in the Democratic Republic of Congo as rumors spread that the outbreak — and the disease itself — is a hoax.—
Rael Ombuor,
Washington Post,
27 May 2026
-
From a qualifications level, among other things, Vein pointed out Pratt’s financial challenges as well as Pratt’s association with Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist who was found liable to parents for a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Americans for Prosperity sponsored a striking display in the DECC’s Pioneer Hall, demonstrating the scale of the state’s fraud losses with faux $100 bills stacked in volumes that would total $2 billion.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
The authors then matched high-fraud ZIP codes to areas with fast-appreciating home prices.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
De Zerbi has been in the job for less than two months but quickly forged a strong bond with his players, as shown by those full-time scenes.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Teachout endorsed Zohran Mamdani; Khan worked for his transition team and has joined his mayoral administration, forging another tie between the neo-Brandeisians and other components of the Democratic Party’s left wing.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
-
In January, Roberts pleaded guilty to making a false statement for employment and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm while being in the country illegally.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, Hernández played in just one rehab game returning from a strained groin.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Large parts of its war effort are now unmanned, the robots, drones, and remotely piloted tanks giving it a sudden, albeit fragile, edge over a lumbering and strained Russian invader.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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