as in counterfeit
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
a skilled forger who hoaxed the art world into believing that the paintings were long-lost Vermeers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hoax
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
18 June 2026
Though the president has been blasting the ongoing affordability crisis as a hoax since late last year, polls show Americans largely blame him for skyrocketing prices.
—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Kansas State University First day of classes interrupted by Hale Library hoax.
—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Noun
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
Though the president has been blasting the ongoing affordability crisis as a hoax since late last year, polls show Americans largely blame him for skyrocketing prices.
—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
Many Canadians began to feel as if they had been hoaxed.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
Kansas State University First day of classes interrupted by Hale Library hoax.
—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoax
Noun
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Luxus focuses on pristine-condition assets with clear provenance, reducing risks associated with counterfeits and quality degradation.
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To me, the result didn’t taste like a cheap counterfeit but a breakthrough.
Verb
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These fraudulent sites often mimic legitimate stores or rank high in search results, tricking desperate consumers into buying non-existent AC units.
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The revenge story saw Tucker's exes convincing Snow's Kate to trick the ladies' man into falling in love with her.
Noun
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And what happens to someone who’s been outed like that, as a fake?
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The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services has warned that people can easily obtain fakes; in 2010, Puerto Rico invalidated all its existing birth certificates, citing rampant fraud and identity theft.
Verb
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Don’t be fooled by their jaw-dropping price; the flats boast a luxe look thanks to their low profile and—of course—glove silhouette.
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The fluffy blooms on mimosa trees (Albizia julibrissin) look pretty in pink, but don’t be fooled by their dainty appearance.
Noun
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Both the duvet cover and shams have a sateen finish, and an ultra-soft, lived-in feel.
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Kristjánsson pointed out that the whole thing was kind of a sham.
Verb
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Appearance, though, can be deceiving, but luckily, this shed is still packed with smart features and a clever design that will keep all your belongings safe.
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Here, however, the joke is that appearances can be deceiving — or to be more specific, that trying to act like a character in a movie is a reckless, unwise thing to do.
Noun
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On Wednesday, a Wayne County jury acquitted Hamtramck City Councilmember Mohammed Hassan of both felony counts of election law forgery and forging a signature on an absentee ballot application.
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Federal law strictly prohibits the publication of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including digital forgeries, and most states have passed criminal laws.
Noun
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Even today, students can tell you that the biggest phony in the book is Holden himself.
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At Dodger Stadium at the end of April, Crow-Amstrong also had to deal with the consequences of his actions — ripping Los Angeles Dodgers fans for being phonies in a Chicago magazine article that went viral.
Cite this Entry
“Hoax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoax. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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