variants
also phoney
1
as in fake
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 bogus
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 meaningless
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 counterfeit
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 sham
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
Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Another act had a mock Usha Vance singing about being a phony populist.
—Shawn McCreesh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2025
Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 July 2024
His character, called The Passenger, is unpredictable, violent and has no patience for phonies, though there is an emotional key to his madness.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
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
In his Tuesday comments about drinking tequila, the mayor appeared to be referring to an incident last week that Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen has said was a phony setup manufactured by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.
—Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Another act had a mock Usha Vance singing about being a phony populist.
—Shawn McCreesh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
The comment was Vance's response after Beshear had previously called him a phony and not a Kentuckian and implied heavily that nepotism was the only reason Beshear is governor.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 July 2024
His character, called The Passenger, is unpredictable, violent and has no patience for phonies, though there is an emotional key to his madness.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
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
-
With digital platforms flooded with bots and fake numbers, Kerns built his following and client base by offering true engagement, authority, and working systems.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
Swatting is when a 911 call is made, usually to report a fake violent crime, to get police and sometimes even SWAT teams, to respond to the address given by the caller.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But Carrie’s dad also went on television to promote bogus medical devices and dubious supplements and made videos advancing pseudoscientific theories to sell his wares.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Some of the excuses are legitimate but many are bogus.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And the testing is meaningless unless people are also being connected to treatment as quickly as possible.—
Jennifer Lotito,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Shaking your fist at the fools who started the First World War and condemned millions to a meaningless death seems jejune; historians teach us to say that the generals did their best under impossible conditions.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Postal service inspectors have worked to uncover counterfeits for so long that the National Postal Museum hosted an entire exhibition this year on the topic of baseball memorabilia fraud.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
-
In February, the agency seized 1,815 shipments containing over $525 million worth of counterfeits.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The set features an all-over stitched diamond pattern with neatly finished edges, curved corners, and matching shams for a cohesive look.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Your order wouldn’t be complete without matching shams.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The duo forged a bond while on England duty at under-17 level.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
-
There’s only forging ahead into the next mission — with another yearlong time-jump just around the corner.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Last year’s 17-9 start proved to be a false spring, one that lulled fans into thinking Craig Counsell replacing David Ross was the real difference between an 83-win Cubs team and the postseason.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
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Pollsters asked respondents about three false claims: that the measles vaccine is more dangerous than getting the disease; that the vaccine causes autism in children, and that vitamin A can prevent a measles infection.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This could certainly change if the Rockets land a certain French teenager in this year's draft lottery, but the first half of 2022-23 has assuaged some concerns about the long-term viability of a pseudo-twin-towers in the starting lineup with Jabari Smith flanked by Alperen Şengün.—
Michael Shapiro,
Chron,
15 Jan. 2023
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In a code division scheme, each call is encoded in a random or pseudo-random sequencing, and receivers at the other end are equipped to decode their own calls.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Apr. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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