variants
or phoney-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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The script is by David Koepp (writer of the best Mission: Impossible, the 1996 Brian De Palma iteration), and it’s filled with shimmery red herrings and liberal lashings of phony-baloney techno-spy stuff.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
The script is by David Koepp (writer of the best Mission: Impossible, the 1996 Brian De Palma iteration), and it’s filled with shimmery red herrings and liberal lashings of phony-baloney techno-spy stuff.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony-baloney
Adjective
-
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last week accused Meta of failing to remove imposter accounts that Bragg said pose as organizations like Catholic Charities to offer fake immigration services that scam money from unsuspecting victims.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Brooke Sutton / Getty Images The pair allegedly used fake personal financial and bank statements, driver's licenses, and Secretary of State documents in an attempt to trick lenders into believing that the loans were for companies owned by the players.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sophomore shortstop Mikey Watson, an Illinois-Chicago commit, came up with a two-run double and drove in four runs for H-F (10-5).—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
In the bottom of the frame, a double by Mickey Moniak, followed by an RBI single by rookie TJ Rumfield cut Los Angeles’ lead to 2-1.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
My fellow Americans, certain words have been rendered meaningless in describing the current state of affairs.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Not because of their result at the Clippers on Sunday, a 115-110 loss, but because the Warriors finished the ultimately meaningless game with no new injuries, which is all coach Steve Kerr wanted to see.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Police would soon learn that Lugo was a burley ex-convict who had served time for running a phony loan scam operation.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Engage in real, ongoing collaborations — not phony one-offs.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
How hypocritical that of me, Amy, and Gretchen, the only one married is me.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not just awkward; that’s hypocritical.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The pop of color offers a shimmer-free (rare!) means of warming up a wedding look and works equally well at lip level.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Such spending flourishes in secrecy, and this year’s artificial rush toward a last-minute deal suggests that more giveaways are coming.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Pasricha also advises her patients to steer clear of foods with artificial sweeteners - often advertised as sugar-free - because they're known to cause diarrhea and bloating.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Those two standout episodes are also largely separated from the country club settling, which too often opens the door for slightly superficial jabs at the club’s vapid members.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
-
As in this moisturizing CeraVe cream, beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) is able to penetrate past superficial layers to turn skin into a smooth canvas while fading age spots and hyperpigmentation.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phony-baloney.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony-baloney. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
