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
The Court’s dismissal of Baldoni’s sham lawsuit was a total victory after all. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 24 June 2025 For instance, in nearby Connecticut the state supreme court rejected an attempt to stop an affordable housing development with sham playing fields. —Andrew Wimer, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
Lukashenko, who in January secured another term in office in another election the opposition denounced as a sham, has recently been pardoning some political prisoners, seeking to improve ties with the West. —Yuras Karmanau, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025 Ten people received sham therapy for comparison. Post-treatment, the researchers used various methods to measure the participants’ biological ages, tapping into an emerging concept that suggests someone may be physiologically older or younger than their chronological age suggests. —Jamie Ducharme, Health, 6 June 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
  • Morrow wore all Coach: a faux fur cheetah coat with mom-style denim jeans and a black leather bustier top.
    — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 July 2025
  • With six colors to choose from, this luxe faux leather passport holder may just become your new favorite travel accessory.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025
Definition of faux
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
Definition of counterfeit
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
Definition of mock
Noun
  • Fittingly, Yankovic and Miranda pulled together a parody of the viral Coldplay Cheating Camera with some help from Colbert’s late-night peers.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2025
  • Colbert soon developed a character for himself, a parody of conservative political pundits loosely based on Bill O'Reilly, then on Fox News.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Definition of parody
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
  • While half the town is eager to see the virus controlled, the other half is convinced that their smug neighbors are using a hoax of a pandemic to control and mistreat them.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
Definition of hoax
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of fraud
Verb
  • There were Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen pretending to make out.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 July 2025
  • Upon spotting himself on the big screen, Cohen immediately reached over and pretended to make out with a shocked Cooper.
    — Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 22 July 2025
Definition of pretend
Adjective
  • How tariff news fuels some scams The Better Business Bureau warned earlier this summer that some scammers are using fake excuses involving delays caused by tariffs to cover up fraudulent online orders.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 24 July 2025
  • 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
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 29 Jul. 2025.

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