shams 1 of 2

noun

plural of sham
1
as in parodies
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something condemned the rigged election as a total sham

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in counterfeits
an imitation that is passed off as genuine the diamond turned out to be a sham

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shams

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sham
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of shammed a most unconvincing limp just to get sympathy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shams
Noun
Shop it with the matching shams, or mix it with classic stripes for a personal touch. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 The dotted floral design adds a subtle pattern without feeling too bold, and matching shams are available to complete the look. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 Both the duvet cover and shams have a sateen finish, and an ultra-soft, lived-in feel. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The quilt also comes with two matching 20-x-36-inch pillow shams. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
Verb
For more of our favorite linen bedding, check out sheet sets, duvet covers, quilts, throw blankets, pillowcases, and shams below. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 When paired with a chunky throw and, perhaps a plaid throw, the duvet cover and shams practically give off visual warmth. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026 Her book of creative nonfiction titled Zaman saghir taht shams thaniya (A Small Time Under a Different Sun) was published by Dar al-Nahda, Beirut in 2019. — Huda Fakhreddine august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shams
  1. parodies
  2. counterfeits
  3. frauds
  4. pretends
  5. caricatures
  6. hoaxes
  7. fakes
  8. simulates
Noun
  • Gordon has made a name for himself through parodies that channel different personas and genres.
    — Marc Malkin, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Scary Movie paved the way for more big-screen parodies, including Date Movie (2006), Epic Movie (2007), and Meet the Spartans (2008).
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 June 2026
Definition of parodies
Noun
  • Masherah also emphasized keeping Jordan with Upper Deck provides collectors a safe place to acquire authenticated Jordan autographed memorabilia when there are so many fakes and counterfeits floating around.
    — Larry Holder, New York Times, 8 July 2026
  • Luxus focuses on pristine-condition assets with clear provenance, reducing risks associated with counterfeits and quality degradation.
    — Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of counterfeits
Noun
  • Lowry, in the meantime, would embark on a two-decade career in a league that spits out frauds on the regular.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Their only inheritance is a legacy of two-bit crime that inspires them to run increasingly audacious frauds.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of frauds
Verb
  • The show only pretends to be organized around romantic couples.
    — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
  • The sequence in which Carmy tries to talk Richie down from a panic attack feels equally dynamic and alive right to its conclusion — when Carmy pretends they’ve gotten locked in, just as Carmy once was, to mess with Richie’s head.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of pretends
Noun
  • Created by Chicago painter Nathaniel Mary Quinn, the image mashes up caricatures of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ron Wood into a glorious grotesquerie that channels the colorful glam-trash aesthetics of the band’s late-’70s phase.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
  • And the thing about caricatures?
    — Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Definition of caricatures
Noun
  • By probing his triple role as author, anthropologist and cult leader, the book asks why Americans hunger for seductive spiritual hoaxes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
  • The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 June 2026
Definition of hoaxes
Noun
  • In this case, as staff eventually discovered, the box had been returned – but the books themselves had been replaced with fakes.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • Some of the manuscripts were never returned, while others were replaced with fakes.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of fakes
Verb
  • The standard machine simulates a game by shooting balls at varying angles.
    — Shirl Leigh July 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • Swanson earned the national championship in the Postsecondary Collision Damage Appraisal Division, a competition that simulates the work of professional collision estimators and insurance appraisers, according to a press release from the college.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Definition of simulates

Browse Nearby Words

shampoos
shams
shamus
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Cite this Entry

“Shams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shams. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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