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
Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
Schylling is also warning shoppers to steer clear of counterfeit versions popping up online amid the viral demand.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
While many online retailers and marketplaces have taken steps to address the marketing of counterfeits, others still haven’t put the requisite measures in place—like notice and takedown procedures, identity verification and policies to punish offenders—that would curb the behavior.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
Mac Engel
january 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026
Reports of dangerous side effects are extremely rare, and typically linked to counterfeit or mishandled Botox.
—NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Adjective
With demand running high, counterfeit versions have flooded the market, and the company is urging shoppers to be careful.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
Schylling is also warning shoppers to steer clear of counterfeit versions popping up online amid the viral demand.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Noun
By 2009, Nakamoto took Bitcoin from theory to reality, mining the Genesis Block, and then, once the rules were set, protections against counterfeits were secured, and Bitcoin began to circulate—still worth next to nothing—Nakamoto vanished.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
While many online retailers and marketplaces have taken steps to address the marketing of counterfeits, others still haven’t put the requisite measures in place—like notice and takedown procedures, identity verification and policies to punish offenders—that would curb the behavior.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Murder, kidnapping and probably counterfeiting are all still against the rules in college football.
—Mac Engel
january 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026
Reports of dangerous side effects are extremely rare, and typically linked to counterfeit or mishandled Botox.
—NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit
Adjective
-
The bot-detection firm Cyabra analyzed seven days of activity around the ad and determined that 15 percent of the TikTok accounts commenting on it were fake but had created a disproportionately large percentage of the uproar.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
To return the favor, Graham proposes a fake dating scheme with Wells to make her crush, singer Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston), jealous.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
With two outs already recorded in the inning, Rodón surrendered a double to Carson Benge before issuing walks to Bo Bichette and Juan Soto.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
-
Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson took a double minor for high-sticking, and Jason Zucker scored on the power play to get the Sabres back within one going into the first intermission.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The threat turned out to be a hoax, but the suspicions among staff illustrated how deep the rift had become.—
Geoffrey Cain,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
-
Decades of debate have followed on whether the film was a hoax.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Applied Intuition also acquired EpiSci last year to integrate its tactical AI, and forged an alliance with defense business SNC to fast-track autonomy on the battlefield.—
Rebecca Fannin,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
That laboratory forged a generation of key industry people, including Renzo Rosso, Claudio Buziol, Enzo Fusco, Katahrine Hamnett, Betsey Johnson and many others.—
Maria Cristina Pavarini,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The two initially make a deal where Hannah exchanges free tutoring lessons for Garrett pretending to be her boyfriend, making her crush jealous.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
With the war’s turbulence on the economy more prevalent and the internet now throttled, Russians no longer have the luxury of pretending the war in Ukraine isn’t happening.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
On May 14, Dana Williamson, a former top aide to Newsom and onetime Becerra political adviser, pleaded guilty in federal court after accepting a plea deal to multiple charges, including committing bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to the FBI.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Dana Williamson, former top aide to Newsom, pleaded guilty in an FBI corruption probe to bank fraud, filing a false tax return and lying to the FBI.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Destinee Adams wrote the copy for this piece.—
Michel Martin,
NPR,
13 May 2026
-
Ability to quickly attach physical copies of your work to your records.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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