fake 1 of 3

Definition of fakenext
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fake

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noun

fake

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verb

1
as in to counterfeit
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive pranksters faked giant footprints and then claimed that they had seen Bigfoot

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
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as in to evade
to elude (an opponent in a sports contest) by making a deceptive or agile movement the running back faked the defense by stepping to his left and then quickly cutting to the right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

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

When could counterfeit be used to replace fake?

The meanings of counterfeit and fake largely overlap; however, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When is fraud a more appropriate choice than fake?

The synonyms fraud and fake are sometimes interchangeable, but fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

In what contexts can humbug take the place of fake?

While the synonyms humbug and fake are close in meaning, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When is it sensible to use imposture instead of fake?

The words imposture and fake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When would sham be a good substitute for fake?

Although the words sham and fake have much in common, sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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 fake
Adjective
The protagonists are invariably elite young people whose parents approve of their match, their separation is always a result of slavery, fake death, kidnap or a combination of all three and their reunion is usually facilitated by the gods. Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit has issued a warning about fake temporary license plates. Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Noun
Maclean’s work traffics in deep fakes and glitch aesthetics, rainbow cuteness and the tropes of pulp—but these are set against violent dystopias and a world of cruelties borne, especially, by women (see her 2018 video Make Me Up as an example). Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026 Thirty-four years having passed since the last go-round, we are treated to such modern advances as catfishing, drones, deep fakes, social media and pushy true-crime podcasters. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Verb
And there’s no evidence, no evidence, zero evidence in this country, that there is a problem at scale with people faking their identification in elections. NBC news, 28 June 2026 And no one can fake it (though many try). Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • Investigators also caught the brothers with at least 15 counterfeit and unauthorized bank cards, prosecutors said.
    Joe Marusak July 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
  • The case focused on Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese citizen and green-card holder, who was charged with selling nearly $300,000 in counterfeit shorts before returning from a 2012 trip.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Inside, a memory foam insole with arch support cushions every step, and the soft faux leather molds to your ideal fit over time.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • The white interior and faux leather are also available in Overland and reviewed Limited trims.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • On Thursday, Gary Police Department personnel visited campers to teach about crime scene investigation and create a mock crime scene for students to solve.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • An 11-year-old Dexter Sol Ansell is peering into his Zoom camera, hands pressed to his cheeks and mouth wide open in mock shock.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Taylor Walls recorded three hits while Chandler Simpson added a double and a single.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Resting options include double bunk beds in back and queen bed with bamboo mattress up front.
    Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • There is some speculation that the coup was a hoax, however, as Roy Bates was later represented in court by one of Sealand’s Dutch occupiers.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Another of WKNA‘s articles even uses a screenshot that was first posted to r/poisonai that shows Google’s AI Overview correctly asserting that reports of Vance’s death are a hoax.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Kidan pleaded guilty in 2005 to fraud and conspiracy related to the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, and in 2006 he was sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
    Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Google also said the devices were used for ad fraud and other digital crimes.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The future vision is to forge partnerships with OEMs, expand internationally, leverage the EV base to build a 2nd-life EV business and expand into V2G services.
    Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • As American wine continues to evolve, the story is less about competing with Europe than about forging a distinctly American identity.
    Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Barcenas' tea-sipping celebration was a tribute to Alex Morgan, one of the Wave's owners, who pretended to take a sip of tea after scoring in a match against England during the 2019 Women's World Cup.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Well, Ariana seems to remember, whereas Hudson is determined to just undo the breakup and pretend like none of it ever happened.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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