1
as in fake
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud
counterfeit currency that had been passed all over town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in double
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
when it comes to the poor, his compassion is so counterfeit—he gives a damn, and that's all that he gives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the will as well as the other documents turned out to be counterfeits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fake
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive
an expert at counterfeiting money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
managing to counterfeit a happy expression while visiting a sick friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterfeit
Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Last month, federal agents seized 1,730 pounds of methamphetamine, 238 pounds of cocaine, 257 pounds of powdered fentanyl and about 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills from the home.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
James Powel, USA Today, 8 May 2025
The products in the TikTok videos could also be high-quality dupes and counterfeits, which Lululemon has previously tried to combat.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Kaja Andric, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Earlier this year, French, Italian, and Swiss police forces teamed up to bust a ring of wine fraudsters who were selling counterfeited Grand Cru wines (the premier designation of quality in French wine) for up to €15,000 a bottle.
—Chris Hall, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Adjective
Suddenly, there was a market for counterfeit whole coffee beans, made of pigeon beans and peas, or even wax and clay.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Last month, federal agents seized 1,730 pounds of methamphetamine, 238 pounds of cocaine, 257 pounds of powdered fentanyl and about 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills from the home.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Noun
The 516 counterfeit watches emulated brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier and others.
—James Powel, USA Today, 8 May 2025
The products in the TikTok videos could also be high-quality dupes and counterfeits, which Lululemon has previously tried to combat.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles regularly updates the design and security measures of its driver’s licenses to stay ahead of counterfeiting techniques.
—Kaja Andric, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Earlier this year, French, Italian, and Swiss police forces teamed up to bust a ring of wine fraudsters who were selling counterfeited Grand Cru wines (the premier designation of quality in French wine) for up to €15,000 a bottle.
—Chris Hall, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit
Adjective
-
There’s a backdrop of fake news and collective anxiety.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
5 June 2025
-
Federal agents concluded that many of the documents, which were turned over by an attorney representing the restaurant, were fake or falsified, according to the warrant.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Went Two-Times Platinum in Under Two Months By mid-July 2024, RM’s Right Place, Wrong Person had been certified double platinum on Korea’s Circle Charts with over 500,000 copies sold despite his absence from active promotions.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
The double cheeseburger requires a commitment, prompting a likely nap shortly after.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
Jones declared bankruptcy after the Sandy Hook families won $1.3 billion in two defamation suits in Connecticut and Texas after Jones spread bogus conspiracy theories that the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., was a hoax.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
6 June 2025
-
Police determined the call was a hoax before officers responded, according to KLAS.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
That perspective, forged through experience and gratitude, keeps him grounded when the stakes feel highest.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
-
Also, Leos are known to forge their path — closely resembling Mikey‘s use of One-Eyed Willy’s map to search for the Liberator’s treasure.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
Diversify vendors, build local backups and stop pretending just-in-time solutions work in a world that’s anything but stable.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
Let Lilian slow down and hesitate before issuing a greeting—Maureen would pretend to neither hear nor see her.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Use a bow rake, with forged metal tines, to grade and smooth the terrain.—
Joshua Siskin,
Orange County Register,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Russia once floated the idea of the U.S. acquiring Greenland in a forged fundraising letter sent to Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton nearly five years ago, according to Danish intelligence.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Moore had to deal with the rejection of her only attempt at a novel and the news that her Selected Poems had been remaindered at thirty cents a copy.—
Susan Gubar
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
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Alternatively, for a Chicago water bill, a unit owner may obtain a copy of the city of Chicago water bill and full payment certificate from the Chicago Department of Finance, which can be obtained online.—
Howard Dakoff,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
What constitutes the crime is to phony up business accounting records to disguise the payments.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2024
-
In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.—
Gary Thompson,
Philly.com,
29 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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