sham 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of shamnext
1
as in faux
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials a sofa upholstered in sham leather

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2
as in counterfeit
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud street vendors selling sham designer handbags to gullible tourists

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3
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality the sham friendliness of a salesman trying to sell you something

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sham

2 of 3

noun

ˈsham How to pronounce sham (audio)
1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something condemned the rigged election as a total sham

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2
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine the diamond turned out to be a sham

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3
as in fraud
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise that supposed French movie star was a sham

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sham

3 of 3

verb

as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of shammed a most unconvincing limp just to get sympathy

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How is the word sham different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of sham are counterfeit, fake, fraud, humbug, and imposture. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

Where would counterfeit be a reasonable alternative to sham?

In some situations, the words counterfeit and sham are roughly equivalent. However, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When could fake be used to replace sham?

The meanings of fake and sham largely overlap; however, fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

In what contexts can fraud take the place of sham?

While the synonyms fraud and sham are close in meaning, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When is it sensible to use humbug instead of sham?

Although the words humbug and sham have much in common, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When might imposture be a better fit than sham?

The words imposture and sham can be used in similar contexts, but imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

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 sham
Adjective
Burkhart executed and skimmed money via sham contracts and business deals. —Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025 At least a one-point pain reduction was achieved by 91% of those in the intervention group, versus 66% of sham participants. —New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
It’s woven from 100 percent organic cotton, includes a quilt and matching shams, and comes in both dark gray and olive green. —Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025 Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The Kremlin declared in fall 2022 that Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions were now part of Russia after referendums widely condemned as a sham. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sham
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sham
  1. faux
  2. counterfeit
  3. mock
  4. parody
  5. hoax
  6. fraud
  7. pretend
  8. fake
Adjective
  • There are so many fun home decor in Pottery Barn’s clearance section for less than $50, including candle holders, faux plants, and even (some) bedding.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Particular standouts are a walnut and parchment media console, faux-fur pouf ottomans with an angular chrome base, a unique performance velvet sectional, and a particularly striking set of dining chairs.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • But because the signals are so faint, they can be drowned out by cheap jammers or replaced by counterfeit ones.
    — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The constant threat of counterfeit goods must be faced when navigating the secondary market.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of counterfeit
Adjective
  • Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Sweater My grandmother also purchased this 100 percent cashmere mock-neck sweater to have on hand in case the weather requires an extra layer.
    — Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of mock
Noun
  • At home, Russia’s wartime economy looks like a parody of Soviet stagnation, exactly what Putin warned against in the early years of his presidency.
    — Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Comedian John Early’s directorial debut, ostensibly a pastiche of basic-cable TV movies, is not a parody, or a satire, or even a comedy.
    — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of parody
Noun
  • While these hoaxes mostly ended up being false alarms, experts note that these types of hoaxes are not only a serious crime with substantial penalties for those involved but can also put first responders and bystanders at risk.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The alerts came a day after Charlie Kirk was killed in a campus shooting in Utah — and amid a wave of active shooter hoaxes nationwide.
    — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • The Nepalese government, citing concerns over fake accounts, hate speech, disinformation and fraud, said the measures were to ensure accountability and make operators responsible for content on their platforms.
    — Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • While the classic grounds for denaturalization include concealment of criminal histories or material lies in the naturalization process, there are growing indications that serious tax fraud may be viewed as evidence that naturalization was procured illegally or fraudulently.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • The study saw parents use actions to joke and pretend with kids aged 16 to 20 months old.
    — Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Scrolling on one’s phone can be a deadening experience, but here’s someone feeling, or at least pretending to feel, a genuine feeling—even if the abundance of these videos surely numbs us further.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of pretend
Adjective
  • Colbert made several jokes about needing a job and even brought a fake resume with a youthful headshot of himself.
    — Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The Nepalese government, citing concerns over fake accounts, hate speech, disinformation and fraud, said the measures were to ensure accountability and make operators responsible for content on their platforms.
    — Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of fake

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Cite this Entry

“Sham.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sham. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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