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
Imelda García, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Agent Janke indicated the individual behind the phony note was seeking to capitalize on the case, which has captured national attention.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 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
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
Several people recorded TikToks of their own in response to the phony video, criticizing the restaurant and further exacerbating the damage.
—Imelda García, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Agent Janke indicated the individual behind the phony note was seeking to capitalize on the case, which has captured national attention.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 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
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
-
While the victim is retrieving the money, a second suspect quickly removes the ATM card from the machine and replaces it with a counterfeit card that closely resembles the original.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
While the person is distracted, the initial suspect quickly steals the ATM card from the machine and replaces it with a counterfeit card.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Denver Post Broncos beat reporter Luca Evans also has McNeil-Warren coming to Denver in his mock draft.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
-
An annual festival in Andorra drew condemnation from the country’s small Jewish community after an effigy bearing the Israeli flag was staged in a mock trial and then hung and shot.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The outcome is sure to spark strong reactions from Arizona Republicans who advanced the 2022 changes and several GOP legislators successfully invoked the law to defend themselves as fake electors from criminal prosecution by Mayes.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Jonathan Holloway, founder of Pokémon card authentication and pre-grading company Validoe, told USA TODAY that fake cards are abundant in the market, so the authenticity of the cards should be ensured before grading, which often comes at a price.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Colorado park ranger accused of stabbing himself in a hoax that sparked a large-scale manhunt at Staunton State Park last August took a plea deal Monday.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
23 Feb. 2026
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The seasonal park ranger accused of creating a stabbing hoax at Colorado's Staunton State Park last summer has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One Minnesota federal prosecutor last summer estimated that the total fraud across several programs could exceed $9 billion.—
STEVE KARNOWSKI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
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In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a home healthcare agency named Twin Cities Care Services received $116,000 in reimbursements over just two months in 2024, even though the business was busted eight years earlier for Medicaid fraud.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Losing a leader that forged so many personal relationships in a building being gutted by layoffs hasn’t made things easier.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Our public schools helped forge the civic culture of a young republic and define the American idea itself.—
Robert Casper,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But Republicans are worried that the popular but scandal-plagued Paxton could eventually win the primary, boosting Democrats’ chances of finally flipping the seat blue after decades of false hope.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
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That same user later posted another video acknowledging police’s statement about the false rumors, which only has about 3,000 views.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Her breathing grew strained and wheezy.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Centrist leaders in the United Kingdom, France and Germany resist spending a larger percentage of their strained budgets defending against a Russian threat that their far-right populist opponents might think can be easily negotiated away.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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