Synonyms of phony

phony 1 of 3

adjective

ˈfō-nē 

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

• counterfeit
• fake
• false
• forged
• bogus
• inauthentic
• sham
• imitation
• spurious
• ornamental
• snide
• manufactured
• artificial
• synthetic
• unauthentic
• deceptive
• mock
• simulated
• misleading
• dummy
• factitious
• substitute
• cultured
• fabricated
• mimic
• nonfunctioning
• delusive
• man-made

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• real
• genuine
• authentic
• bona fide
• natural
• actual
• true
• unfaked
• valid

2

as in mock

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

she always has this phony smile just before she betrays you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mock
• fake
• false
• strained
• unnatural
• pseudo
• mechanical
• artificial
• exaggerated
• bogus
• simulated
• contrived
• sham
• plastic
• affected
• factitious
• spurious
• forced
• feigned
• assumed
• theatrical
• cute
• pretended
• put-on
• hollow
• unreal
• manufactured
• insincere
• empty
• automatic
• unauthentic
• hypocritical
• pat
• fabricated
• unrealistic
• formal
• deliberate
• hokey
• canned
• calculated
• labored
• unctuous
• wooden
• histrionic
• melodramatic
• stiff
• facile
• conventional
• concocted
• mealy
• impersonal
• conscious
• stylized
• two-faced
• rigid
• mincing
• mealymouthed
• cultivated
• genteel
• premeditated
• simpering
• cutesy
• artful
• double-dealing
• overacted
• overdone
• studied
• inflexible
• goody-goody
• left-handed
• overrefined

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• genuine
• real
• natural
• spontaneous
• authentic
• true
• realistic
• artless
• right
• unaffected
• bona fide
• sincere
• honest
• ingenuous
• unforced
• easy
• unfeigned
• uncontrived
• smooth
• effortless
• unconscious
• impromptu
• instinctive
• extemporaneous
• impulsive
• unpretending
• unrehearsed
• unstudied
• unprompted

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

• fake
• double
• meaningless
• counterfeit
• lip
• superficial
• insincere
• artificial
• strained
• hollow
• hypocritical
• pretended
• false
• feigned
• backhanded
• unctuous
• phony-baloney
• mechanical
• unnatural
• mealy
• jive
• pious
• assumed
• dishonest
• two-faced
• mealymouthed
• double-faced
• contrived
• empty
• affected
• Janus-faced
• double-dealing
• forced
• simulated
• sham
• Pecksniffian
• bogus
• deceitful
• left-handed
• glib
• put-on
• untruthful
• claptrap
• devious
• facile
• sanctimonious
• facetious
• jocular
• campy
• tongue-in-cheek
• pharisaical
• self-righteous
• simon-pure
• canting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• genuine
• sincere
• honest
• heartfelt
• artless
• candid
• unfeigned
• direct
• plain
• open
• frank
• forthright
• straightforward
• undesigning
• heart-to-heart

phony

2 of 3

noun

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

• hoax
• counterfeit
• fake
• copy
• sham
• reproduction
• forgery
• replica
• synthetic
• bastard
• humbug
• spoof
• knockoff
• copycat
• swindle
• simulation
• facsimile
• fraud
• dummy
• imposture
• shoddy
• gaff
• mock-up
• duffer
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• original

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

• fake
• fraud
• sham
• pretender
• faker
• impostor
• charlatan
• quack
• deceiver
• misleader
• mountebank
• actor
• counterfeiter
• ringer
• hoaxer
• operator
• fakir
• humbug
• sharper
• quacksalver
• copycat
• imitator
• mimic
• impersonator
• dissembler
• poseur
• duper
• swindler
• skinner
• trickster
• scammer
• fraudster
• dodger
• defrauder
• bluffer
• feigner
• scamster
• sharpie
• cozener

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• master
• professional
• expert
• authority
• virtuoso
• ace
• wizard
• maestro
• whiz
• past master
• crackerjack
• adept

phony

3 of 3

verb

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

• fake
• counterfeit
• forge
• invent
• simulate
• manipulate
• duplicate
• replicate
• reproduce
• crib
• fabricate
• concoct
• cook (up)
• tamper (with)
• juggle
• plagiarize
• adulterate
• reduplicate
• doctor
• fudge

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of phony

Adjective

The whistleblower reported that virtually all the students were veterans — in clear violation of VA rules — and that StoneMakers kept phony class rosters, according to investigators’ notes. — Andrew Ba Tran, Washington Post, 22 July 2026

In the absence of phony injuries, World Cup athletic trainers have had little cause to deploy the dermal refrigerant, which basically functions as an aerosolized placebo. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026

Noun

But investigations found that both documents were phonies, according to the Plymouth DA. — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026

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

Verb

So Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director, who’s been busy trying to phony up charges of mortgage fraud against New York Attorney General Tish James and others, is now the acting DNI. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026

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