HUMBUGGERIES Synonyms: 251 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'humbug' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of humbug are counterfeit , fake , fraud , imposture , and sham . While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent. // creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

Q: When would 'counterfeit' be a good substitute for 'humbug'?

Although the words counterfeit and humbug have much in common, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable. // 20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

Q: When might 'fake' be a better fit than 'humbug'?

The synonyms fake and humbug are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Q: When can 'fraud' be used instead of 'humbug'?

The words fraud and humbug are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth. // the diary was exposed as a fraud

Q: When could 'imposture' be used to replace 'humbug'?

The words imposture and humbug can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Q: When is 'sham' a more appropriate choice than 'humbug'?

While in some cases nearly identical to humbug , sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action. // condemned the election as a sham

humbug 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈhəm-ˌbəg

Definition of humbug

as in hoax

an imitation that is passed off as genuine tests showed that the "old" map of America was a cleverly made humbug

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

original

as in nonsense

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense those UFO stories are a lot of humbug

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as in fraud

one who makes false claims of identity or expertise one humbug after another claimed to be the miraculously surviving daughter of the Russian czar

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humbug

2 of 3

verb

as in to fool

to cause to believe what is untrue humbugged into believing that the bones were the skeleton of a prehistoric human being

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

humbuggery

3 of 3

noun (2)

as in nuts

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense a lot of humbuggery about a mean old witch that lives in the woods

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Some common synonyms of humbug are counterfeit, fake, fraud, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When would counterfeit be a good substitute for humbug?

Although the words counterfeit and humbug have much in common, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When might fake be a better fit than humbug?

The synonyms fake and humbug are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 can fraud be used instead of humbug?

The words fraud and humbug are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When could imposture be used to replace humbug?

The words imposture and humbug can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is sham a more appropriate choice than humbug?

While in some cases nearly identical to humbug, 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 humbug

Noun

San Diego theaters have lined up a bounty of seasonal stage shows designed to delight even the biggest humbugs. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2025 These small marine reef fish are often known by the peculiar common name, the humbug damselfish (Figure 1). — Grrlscientist, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Verb

In its verb form, to be humbugged is to be deceived or be the victim of a hoax. — Elizabeth Wolfe and Douglas S. Wood, CNN, 21 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for humbug

Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbug

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

Definition of hoax

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

Definition of fraud

Verb

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.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 July 2026
The fluffy blooms on mimosa trees (Albizia julibrissin) look pretty in pink, but don’t be fooled by their dainty appearance.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 July 2026

Definition of fool

Noun

Granola One of the original ‘health foods,’ granola contains many nutritious ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and seeds.

— Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 July 2026
California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of nuts

Verb

These fraudulent sites often mimic legitimate stores or rank high in search results, tricking desperate consumers into buying non-existent AC units.

— Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
The revenge story saw Tucker's exes convincing Snow's Kate to trick the ladies' man into falling in love with her.

— Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Definition of trick

Browse Nearby Words

humbly

humbug

humbugged

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“Humbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbug. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of humbug

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Synonyms of humbug

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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9 Words for Impostors

Words of Deception and Trickery

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on humbug

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Word of the Day

perfunctory

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Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

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The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

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Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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