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

The fake blooms lined the sweeping curves that curled across the arena floor.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
Chastain goes for broke with melodrama as both the real and fake Mommies.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

But this is an album that’s apparently about the artist’s double life, and the questions that are bound to be at the forefront of any curious listener’s mind go unaddressed.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
To [React with exaggerated surprise] is to DO A DOUBLE TAKE — as in, to take out double letters (not consecutive ones, mind you).

— Sam Corbin, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

But San Francisco is now 4-0 with three wins by double digits and a fourth that would have been a nine-point win if not for a virtually meaningless late field goal last week.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Functional performance has always been counted in throughput, cost per transaction and cycle time, and those measures become close to meaningless once the routine work runs itself.

— Charisma Glassman, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of meaningless

Adjective

The director of Gerald’s Game helmed this fantastic prequel about a couple who has a phony séance business.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
The new law expands California’s definition of who is a resident under state sales tax law in an effort to weed out phony shell companies, making a company liable for state taxes when at least one member of the business is a California resident.

— Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of phony

Adjective

The fine was controversial to begin with, as fans and pundits pointed out the NFL’s business with beer sponsors such as Bud Light and called the sensitivity over the celebration hypocritical.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships.

— Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 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 deeper into the community is the Louisiana Leadership Institute, a sprawling complex that includes a full-scale gymnasium, classrooms, a fine arts center, a football field and a stadium with artificial turf.

— Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
The explosion caused an artificial radiation belt that destroyed several satellites and partially knocked out street lights and phone lines in Hawaii.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of artificial

Adjective

In the 2030s, aging party leaders living in rarefied Zhongnanhai compounds may look out and see superficial stability.

— Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
While the two people in the vehicle were attempting to exit the vehicle though the front passenger door, the 17-year-old sustained a superficial gunshot wound to his buttock.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 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 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of phony-baloney

adjective

Example Sentences

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