1
as in parodying
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
spoofed overly competitive parents in a mockumentary about tryouts for a national T-ball team
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
the newspaper was spoofed by a supposedly plausible claim of a UFO encounter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spoofing
Investigators determined the text had come through a voice over IP service capable of spoofing phone numbers.
—
Michael Ruiz , Matt Finn, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Scammers are spoofing numbers to call customers and setting up fake websites that appear in Google searches.
—Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The state is currently suing a host of pornography websites, which are subject to a similar age-verification law for adult-content providers, since location-spoofing software allowed Hoosiers to circumvent the websites' Indiana-wide blackout.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 15 Jan. 2026
In response to the ads, a second anti-ICE campaign has begun from left-leaning campaign group MoveOn Civic Action, spoofing the ads aimed at encouraging American patriots to apply for roles.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Twice now, the Mamdani campaign has rolled out television spots aimed at co-opting and spoofing huge entertainment industry franchises — ABC’s The Bachelor and CBS’ Survivor.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
One common tactic is account spoofing.
—Marin Independent Journal, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Alobera says that, with consent from clients, NCC Group used the voice changer alongside other techniques, like caller ID spoofing, to impersonate individuals.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2025
Weitzman co-wrote and stars in the film, which delights in spoofing tired Hollywood storytelling and franchise fatigue, while toggling between jokes that are exceedingly clever and thrillingly dumb.
—William Earl, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Michael Ruiz , Matt Finn, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Scammers are spoofing numbers to call customers and setting up fake websites that appear in Google searches.
—Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The state is currently suing a host of pornography websites, which are subject to a similar age-verification law for adult-content providers, since location-spoofing software allowed Hoosiers to circumvent the websites' Indiana-wide blackout.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 15 Jan. 2026
In response to the ads, a second anti-ICE campaign has begun from left-leaning campaign group MoveOn Civic Action, spoofing the ads aimed at encouraging American patriots to apply for roles.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Twice now, the Mamdani campaign has rolled out television spots aimed at co-opting and spoofing huge entertainment industry franchises — ABC’s The Bachelor and CBS’ Survivor.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
One common tactic is account spoofing.
—Marin Independent Journal, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Alobera says that, with consent from clients, NCC Group used the voice changer alongside other techniques, like caller ID spoofing, to impersonate individuals.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2025
Weitzman co-wrote and stars in the film, which delights in spoofing tired Hollywood storytelling and franchise fatigue, while toggling between jokes that are exceedingly clever and thrillingly dumb.
—William Earl, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spoofing
Verb
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In response, track athlete Alysia Montaño crafted a video in conjunction with the New York Times, parodying Nike’s sponsor’s ad.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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These are the exact type of tried-and-true New Yorkers and New York hip-hop heads the Bodega Boys blew up by parodying with their frequently unhinged back-and-forth.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prompt injection is a method of tricking LLMs into doing things they are normally prevented from doing.—
Bruce Schneier,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Jan. 2026
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While cold can damage plants, weather that’s too warm too soon can also have a negative effect on bulbs by tricking them into sprouting early.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, previously said in a statement that accounts imitating other people go against their terms of service and are removed when flagged.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
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Broncos fans have rallied around their backup quarterback, with thousands of fans changing their social media avatars to a picture of Stidham’s face, photoshopped with sunglasses and headphones, imitating a LeBron James meme.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Indeed, depth would only get in the way of the plot, which is primarily concerned with fooling you and fooling you again.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Watching Bedard break ankles on a nightly basis like Allen Iverson on skates, attempting one-man rushes most players couldn’t even fathom, fooling elite goaltenders with his patented drag-and-drive release, is exhilarating.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Late-night hosts, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers, have been mocking the documentary.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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Link was captured on Ring camera footage mocking and belittling Jimenez after shooting him, prosecutors say.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Your eyes aren't deceiving you.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
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The final score is a bit deceiving, as Pittsburgh led by 18 before the Cowboys rallied near the end.—
Greg Rajan,
Houston Chronicle,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spoofing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spoofing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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