PHONY-BALONEY Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

phony-baloney

adjective

ˈfō-nē-bə-ˈlō-nē

variants or phoney-baloney

Definition of phony-baloney

as in fake

not being or expressing what one appears to be or express if you believe the company's phony-baloney press releases, it's in business solely for the benefit of mankind

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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-baloney Namely, their own phony-baloney, six-figure jobs. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony-baloney

Adjective

Multiple schools are at the center of incidents in which teens are facing legal consequences for generating fake explicit images of their classmates.

— Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Gen Alphas seem to know almost immediately when something is fake, overproduced, delayed or culturally disconnected, which is why the strongest content right now often feels chaotic.

— Kelly Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

Ask Italian soccer club AS Roma, which on Wednesday made a double announcement that took the cross-pollination between the two fields to the next level.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
Among the highlights is a double-height living room with a fireplace, a seated bar, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors spilling out to an expansive deck sporting a covered entertaining area, plus a pool and spa.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 July 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

Both day-three draft picks in 2025, both battled injuries early in the season last year, and neither earned enough trust to see significant playing time until the meaningless season finale against the Giants.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Despite his youth, Ward can’t escape the Netflix Quarterback Injury Curse and he gets knocked out of the last meaningless game of the season.

— Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of meaningless

Adjective

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter who was convicted on phony espionage charges and jailed for 544 days, might beg to differ with Blumenthal’s analysis.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Some catalytic event—a Reichstag Fire analogue, or another January 6, or a bogus declassification purporting to show foreign hackers changing votes—could be used to manufacture a phony rationale for emergency action.

— James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026

Definition of phony

Adjective

Amendments placed on the ballot by lawmakers would still need only a statewide majority — a distinction critics call hypocritical.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
The public is equally free to find the position ridiculous and hypocritical, and choose to support other leagues that better represent their feelings.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of hypocritical

Adjective

Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.

— Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.

— Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025

Definition of lip

Adjective

With the help of his students, Wangchuk froze stream water into conical artificial glaciers—or ice stupas—to store water during the winter and release it throughout the drier spring and summer.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026

Definition of artificial

Adjective

Reddington also took exception to the prosecution's description of injuries to Clancy's neck and wrists, which had been called superficial.

— Kristina Rex, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Medicare Advantage, despite offering more benefits and cost caps, faces issues with gaming, excessive prior authorization, and a focus on superficial perks.

— Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of superficial

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phony

phony-baloney

phonying

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“Phony-baloney.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony-baloney. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of phony-baloney

adjective

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