SHAM Synonyms: 253 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sham 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of sham

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in parody

a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something condemned the rigged election as a total sham

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hoax

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

original

as in fraud

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Synonym Chooser

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

One of the entrants for the Festival Poems had been a sham Wordsworthian hymn to the poor flowers. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 The Kherson region is one of four the Kremlin claimed to have annexed in September 2022 referenda that were widely dismissed as sham elections. — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

Critics dismissed the polls, held in phases in December and January, as a sham designed to consolidate the military’s grip on power while ostensibly restoring civilian rule. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Filling Decorative Pillow Shams Decorative pillow shams in guest bedrooms that get little use offer an easy way to repurpose old towels. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sham

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sham

Adjective

Experts called plumassiers, or feather specialists, would often collaborate with fashion houses and incorporate feathers, both faux and real, into designs for couture and ready-to-wear collections.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
The ground floor features an 18-seat bar with a rum wall backsplash, carved Moai heads and high-tops that spill out to a lush faux-grass courtyard framed in palm trees and tiki-totem pillars.

— Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of faux

Adjective

There was a modest 5% rise in counterfeit sports cards, yet a 125% increase in fake Pokémon cards.

— Bob Woods, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
In 2019, Italian police arrested three people in a scheme to sell at least 11,000 counterfeit bottles of Tignanello in Italy, Germany and Belgium, labeled as 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages but filled with low-quality wine.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of counterfeit

Adjective

Carson and Guillermo stepped onto the dance floor with sunglasses and A-list celebrity swagger as flashes from mock photographers filled the introduction.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026
In another thread, Strong’s Zuckerberg twitches with irritation through mock congressional hearings, with a PR team headed by crisis management specialist Raya (Wunmi Mosaku), whose task is to make the Facebook CEO likable.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of mock

Noun

There’s no winking at the audience, no sense of camp or parody, just a lot of appealing interactions, plus some wholly superfluous tertiary plots added to expand the story to series length.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
The punch-worthy parody of Altman’s characterization ramps up once he’s motivated to push back against — or trample over — the safety guardrails that Ilya prizes above all else, but so does the depth of his world-breaking cynicism.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of parody

Noun

That changed after the 2020 presidential election, when secretaries of state in places such as Arizona, Georgia and Michigan were thrust into battles over election results, certification and false claims of widespread fraud.

— Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
As Vanity Fair reported at the time, the article led to an all-hands meeting at The Times where some staffers questioned the choice to run a soft profile on a woman who had been convicted of fraud and was about to head to prison.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of fraud

Verb

Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
In a news release, police said that 25-year-old Baldwin Park resident Juan Carlos Amaya contacted the teenage girl via Snapchat and began talking to her while pretending to be 17 years old.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretend

Adjective

When Lee gets to the visitation window, there’s a fake Mekko sitting across from him.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The fake image was attention-grabbing, shady, and timely — in other words, perfect for social media virality but a potential liability for the parties involved.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of fake

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Style

“Sham.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sham. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sham

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Synonyms of sham

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

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8 Words from Around the House

Words of Deception and Trickery

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