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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of phony
Chantelle Lee, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
As part of his scam, Ruth opened different post boxes in eastern Tennessee and established a phony business, El Mundo Marketing LLC, for money laundering, according to prosecutors.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
For a Gen X-er raised on movies that skewered phonies and wannabes, the thought of being a poser was, in the end, far more offensive to his sensibilities than being potentially bland.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 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
Authorities say phony reports divert first responders away from real emergencies, and that these hoax calls can spark fear and even be dangerous, since officers respond to the scene expecting to encounter a serious threat.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
As part of his scam, Ruth opened different post boxes in eastern Tennessee and established a phony business, El Mundo Marketing LLC, for money laundering, according to prosecutors.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
The movie lacks a lot of Shepherd’s biting sarcasm and cynicism, because this book does pine for the good old days while also pointing out how adults then, and now, are a bunch of phonies.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
For a Gen X-er raised on movies that skewered phonies and wannabes, the thought of being a poser was, in the end, far more offensive to his sensibilities than being potentially bland.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 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
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The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert earlier in 2025 to encourage parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with responding to a fake text.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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To make Reen feel comfortable and truly welcomed, Long’s entire extended family wore fake tattoo sleeves to the reunion.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
To me, more pragmatism means moving away from the corrupt, capricious policies of the current administration, such as crony capitalism that imposes bogus tariffs on free trade, punishing leaders and countries the president dislikes while favoring those who flatter him.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Certain advertising outlets wouldn’t take ads for certain films, for really bogus reasons.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, some parents may wonder if these behaviors are related to things like stimming (repetitive movement or sounds), echolalia (meaningless repetition of words), or self-regulation behaviors.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
8 Sep. 2025
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The story unfolds in three distinct chapters as the crisis goes up the chain of command, with each part of the film showing how all our systems and technology are ultimately meaningless in the face of such destructive power.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The non-profit said more oversight could help other counterfeits from entering the country in the future.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Aug. 2025
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Zhang said more companies may face lawsuits from Pop Mart over Lafufus, but counterfeits might also decrease as Pop Mart ramps up its production.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Exclusivo Mezcla Reversible Lightweight Quilt Set The Exclusivo Mezcla Quilt Bedding Set includes a reversible quilt and two matching pillow shams to tie the look together.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
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Pottery Barn offers matching shams with zipper closures, and both the quilt and shams are available on sale.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nick's inability to forgive Noah creates what appears to be an impenetrable barrier between them, with each focused on forging their own professional paths.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Laura Lee Yourex, 62, of Costa Mesa, was charged with five felonies, including perjury, procuring or offering a false or forged document to be filed, casting a ballot when not entitled to vote and registering a non-existent person to vote.—
Riley Hoffman,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Representatives for James have called the fraud claims made against her politically motivated and false.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
6 Sep. 2025
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On the next play, Taylor was called for a false-start penalty.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Many of the individual works are stellar, but the theme is so baggy as to be meaningless, and the wall labels have a rote, pseudo-academic quality.—
Sebastian Smee,
Washington Post,
14 Mar. 2023
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If the tree happened to be on ancestral indigenous land, someone invented racist, pseudo-indigenous fictions to lend the tree an aura of romance.—
Verlyn Klinkenborg,
The New York Review of Books,
2 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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