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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
When Geese’s Cameron Winter played a charity show under a fake name this January, TV Eye was the place to see it.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

Ticketed economy and premium economy passengers who are at least 15 years old can pay $495 to book a four-hour session (no double bookings allowed).

— CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
The bedroom itself is a typical loft with a low ceiling and a double bed, and is accessed by the storage staircase.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

Having a talent advantage is meaningless if the Horned Frogs aren’t focused on the opponent directly in front of them.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026
Eventually, my mother comes downstairs again and puts her arms around him and holds him, whispering something to him, words that to me are meaningless and incomprehensible.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of meaningless

Adjective

Motley Broom, who has been married to the same man for more than 13 years, said the image of the kiss is phony and AI-generated.

— Reed Williams, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Located in Sachs’ studio at 245 Centre Street, the phony Chanel store has a sign with 31 Rue Cambon on its front door, and a black Chanel-esque ensemble in one street-front window and a red one in the other.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of phony

Adjective

There is something deeply hypocritical about discovering and using the language of women’s liberation only when your own status, reputation, or income is at stake.

— Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
That some people in these industries, including those who are well paid, would look at our economy and seek out other ways of doing things is neither hypocritical nor surprising.

— Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 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

But other sections, like artificial language, are no longer in use.

— Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Later in the day, on the other hand, the artificial grass was hardly visible under the beach towels, and there were parents with squabbling children doing cannonballs into the pool.

— Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of artificial

Adjective

That sets up a meeting in which any agreements might be superficial but a possible start to something larger.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Why Proxy Networks Are Different While proxy structure is also rented from third-party providers and serves as core infrastructure for data tasks, the resemblance is superficial at scale.

— Mindaugas Čaplinskas, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of superficial

Browse Nearby Words

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 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of phony-baloney

adjective

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