fake 1 of 3

1
2
3
4

fake

2 of 3

noun

fake

3 of 3

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
3
4
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

Try This Instead

For
Try This
fake documents
counterfeit documents
falsified documents
fraudulent documents
phony documents
bogus documents
a fake identity
a falsified identity
a fraudulent identity
a counterfeit identity
a fictitious identity
a feigned identity
fake news
bogus news
phony news
a fake smile
an inauthentic smile
a feigned smile
a hollow smile
a counterfeit smile
a phony smile

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
Sophie uncovers Margo's elaborate cover-up, which involved help from her estranged brother Kyle (Michael Aaron Milligan) and a fake alibi from her father, Doc Blevins (David Jensen). Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 23 July 2025 Bots can be used for both legitimate and malicious purposes: assisting with customer service, but also spreading misinformation, generating fake reviews, scalping tickets, or manipulating public opinion. Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 22 July 2025
Noun
And not just shooting the shot, but using it to create space for my teammates or using a shot fake to create a different shot for myself or a drive to kick. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025 But a closer inspection revealed some telltale signs that the document, first obtained by the Tribune through a public records request, is likely a fake. Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
Verb
Deepfakes are inauthentic images, videos or audio recordings created by artificial intelligence that appear real but have been digitally manipulated, or faked. Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 18 July 2025 Voit, though, faked the shooting, and when the BAU arrived, Julia was rescued and Tessa captured. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fake
Adjective
  • The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) wants the Trump administration to crack down on counterfeit risks posed by domestic entities.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 18 July 2025
  • Fake websites, impersonator accounts and counterfeit listings can erode trust quickly, and often without warning.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • But there’s alignment between the parties on regulating deepfake pornography and synthetic child abuse material, which could kickstart a series of legislative actions, Sexton said.
    Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 23 July 2025
  • The deadly synthetic opioid has been covered in books and research papers and articles, including many published by inewsource, the nonprofit San Diego newsroom where Self is the managing editor.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • The analytics department had built a mock draft simulator to get a feel for how the board might shake out before the Panthers selected at their No. 57 spot.
    Mike Kaye July 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2025
  • In early March, the command's fighter jets and a U.S. bomber carried out a mock interception over Alaska, showcasing its ability to defend the continent at a moment's notice.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Following Lopez, reliever Elvis Alvarado nearly threw two spotless frames with four strikeouts until a 70 mph blooper to right resulted in a double that took him out of the game.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2025
  • But the Twins found the equalizer in the fourth when Harrison Bader singled to start the frame, went to second on a Christian Vasquez groundout, and came home when Byron Buxton dropped a double at the base of the wall in left field.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Science and the truth don’t go well with the falsehood that climate change is a hoax.
    William "Coty" Keller, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
  • Michelle sat her down and explained that there was a group of conspiracy theorists that believed Sandy Hook was a government hoax to deny Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
    Karla Perez, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • In a plea deal, Johnson pled guilty to one count of broker-dealer registration violation, a Class C felony, in exchange for the 14 securities fraud counts being dismissed.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • One exception is if the government was able to prove that citizenship was obtained through fraud in the case of naturalization.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • But forging strong ties without in-person interaction remains a challenge.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • But if the results are solid, there’s no reason why this name can’t break away and forge a new trading range above current resistance at $60.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • There were Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen pretending to make out.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 July 2025
  • Dad is the one who's going to pretend to be a predator stalking the child and pretending to be a big, scary monster.
    Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 22 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fake. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!