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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of phony
Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Warren has some experience with covering over the past as happened when her phony claim of being a blue-eyed Native American Cherokee descendent blew up.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 14 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
Some of the scams involve fake court documents or notifications about phony traffic or criminal infractions, according to the sheriff's office.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Warren has some experience with covering over the past as happened when her phony claim of being a blue-eyed Native American Cherokee descendent blew up.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 14 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
-
Ticket Scams Fraudsters often create fake ticket websites, counterfeit tickets, and fraudulent social media listings.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026
-
The currency, Willis warned, turns out to be counterfeit.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Public health officials have been preparing for months, said Philadelphia’s Raval-Nelson, including with mock emergency drills and communications with counterparts around the country.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
The mock-neck tank pairs effortlessly with jeans, shorts, or skirts, while the floral wide-leg pants can stand on their own with a simple white tee.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the highs, however, there were some low moments in the week — including a near run-in with Scooter Braun and an insult from a radio analyst who deemed Swift a fake Knicks fan.—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
To make matters worse, cybercriminals are using fake FIFA sites, bogus ticket offers and phony job ads to scam viewers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The Pepsi-tampering mystery was unraveling today as several claims of objects found in soda cans were pronounced hoaxes.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
-
False claims about the virus, including that the epidemic was a hoax, have proliferated across the Central African nation, accelerating the spread of the disease in overcrowded displacement camps where hundreds of people often share a toilet, Reuters reported.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Visa, the world’s largest payment network outside of China, will provide the payment authorization and fraud monitoring needed to do this at scale.—
Barbara Ortutay,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
The bank that lets agents move customer money will own the early failures, the fraud cases that test the new attack surface, and the regulatory scrutiny that follows.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Among them, the friendship forged by the people of Lawrence and the Algerian team and visitors.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
The grief of last summer reverberates beyond the headlines about Heaven’s 27 and the messy social gulf the river forged.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Baldoni denied the allegations and maintained that Lively's claims were false.—
Janelle Ash , Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
Baldoni filed a countersuit in January 2025 for civil extortion, defamation and false light.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Jay has just one hour of oxygen left to forge an escape, applying the knowledge and skill set his late father passed on to him, while also reconciling their strained relationship in the process.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
-
The council listened, with strained faces and large eyes.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
