sham 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of shamnext
1
as in faux
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials a sofa upholstered in sham leather

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2
as in counterfeit
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud street vendors selling sham designer handbags to gullible tourists

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3
as in mock
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality the sham friendliness of a salesman trying to sell you something

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sham

2 of 3

noun

ˈsham How to pronounce sham (audio)
1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something condemned the rigged election as a total sham

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2
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine the diamond turned out to be a sham

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3
as in fraud
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise that supposed French movie star was a sham

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sham

3 of 3

verb

as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of shammed a most unconvincing limp just to get sympathy

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

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

condemned the election as a sham

Where would counterfeit be a reasonable alternative to sham?

In some situations, the words counterfeit and sham are roughly equivalent. However, counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

When could fake be used to replace sham?

The meanings of fake and sham largely overlap; however, 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

In what contexts can fraud take the place of sham?

While the synonyms fraud and sham are close in meaning, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

When is it sensible to use humbug instead of sham?

Although the words humbug and sham have much in common, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When might imposture be a better fit than sham?

The words imposture and sham 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

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 sham
Adjective
Soon after invading Ukraine, the Kremlin conducted sham referendums in the four Ukrainian provinces where the bulk of the fighting took place, purportedly showing overwhelming support for joining Russia, and annexed them soon after. —Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 17 May 2025 As her regime became more autocratic, elections became sham exercises and space for dissent and debate withered. —Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
Noun
Few in the 1990s anticipated the emergence of revisionist powers, for whom the existing order was a sham, a cover for the dominance of the United States and its allies. —Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025 The cruelty of his dishonest sham, founded on disdain for the autistic community and aimed at parents of autistic children, defies decency. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sham
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sham
  1. faux
  2. counterfeit
  3. mock
  4. parody
  5. hoax
  6. fraud
  7. pretend
  8. fake
Adjective
  • These slippers are available in men’s and women’s sizes, and are designed with a suede upper and a plush faux fur lining that yields a buttery-soft feel.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
  • The designer of the faux fur coat Lopez wore in the photos reportedly reposted the image.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • Last month, federal agents seized 1,730 pounds of methamphetamine, 238 pounds of cocaine, 257 pounds of powdered fentanyl and about 360,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills from the home.
    — Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • Bad actors are increasingly impersonating high-profile creators using fake accounts, deepfakes or counterfeit content to scam audiences.
    — Murad Salikhov, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Definition of counterfeit
Adjective
  • The couple misspelled words a few times during their mock challenge against him.
    — Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 2 June 2025
  • For instance, Martinez explained, the program provides an experiential understanding of the workings of city government in a day when participants take on roles in a mock city council meeting with the mayor.
    — Nicole Gregory, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
Definition of mock
Noun
  • However, the thought occurs to me, having stopped off last summer in Cannes on the glittering coast of the South of France, that increasingly all these places are rapidly becoming a parody of themselves and their own brands.
    — James Fallon, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
  • After initial opposition, studios threw their support behind the bill when language was updated to carve out exclusions for projects such as documentaries and biographical works, or for purposes of comment, criticism, or parody, among others.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 May 2025
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Authorities determined the carjacking was nothing more than a hoax with a goal of quick cash by way of insurance fraud, sheriff officials said.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025
  • And how a real video from Gaza led to claims of an AI hoax.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 29 May 2025
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • What did Todd and Julie Chrisley go to prison for? After nearly a decade on air, the pair faced legal trouble for a number of bank and tax fraud offenses.
    — Solcyré Burga, Time, 28 May 2025
  • More than £46 billion in loans had been disbursed by various lenders through the scheme, according to the Department for Business and Trade, but the agency also admitted there had been more than 100,000 cases of loss due to fraud and error.
    — Robert Olsen, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
    — Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • And by the 1930s, some of the parties, particularly Nazi Germany, merely pretended to abide by treaty limits.
    — Eric S. Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
Definition of pretend
Adjective
  • There’s a backdrop of fake news and collective anxiety.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 June 2025
  • Federal agents concluded that many of the documents, which were turned over by an attorney representing the restaurant, were fake or falsified, according to the warrant.
    — Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Definition of fake

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Cite this Entry

“Sham.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sham. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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