counterfeit 1 of 3

counterfeit

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noun

counterfeit

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of counterfeit are fake, fraud, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

In what contexts can fake take the place of counterfeit?

The synonyms fake and counterfeit 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 is it sensible to use fraud instead of counterfeit?

In some situations, the words fraud and counterfeit are roughly equivalent. However, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

Where would humbug be a reasonable alternative to counterfeit?

The meanings of humbug and counterfeit largely overlap; however, 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 counterfeit?

The words imposture and counterfeit 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 counterfeit?

The words sham and counterfeit can be used in similar contexts, but 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 counterfeit
Adjective
An Arizona man’s arrest after allegedly passing a counterfeit $100 bill at a Chesterton pizza parlor has prompted further investigation about a potential connection to other similar incidents in Porter County. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 Nearly seven in 10 consumers were deceived into buying counterfeit products online at least once in 2023, according to research by Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
But buyers should be careful when purchasing tickets online and be wary of counterfeits. Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 Some critics allege that U.S. research security is still not properly defending American science and technology against theft or counterfeit by rivals. Mark Zachary Taylor, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles regularly updates the design and security measures of its driver’s licenses to stay ahead of counterfeiting techniques. Kaja Andric, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025 Earlier this year, French, Italian, and Swiss police forces teamed up to bust a ring of wine fraudsters who were selling counterfeited Grand Cru wines (the premier designation of quality in French wine) for up to €15,000 a bottle. Chris Hall, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit
Adjective
  • Expect more fake eggs made of colored marshmallows or even potatoes on this year’s Easter spread With egg prices stubbornly high, the internet has offered up a host of alternatives, with crafters painting rocks and influencers dyeing everything from marshmallows to potatoes.
    William Lambers, Hartford Courant, 18 Apr. 2025
  • This dog sofa features furniture-quality construction, with fake leather upholstery, memory foam internal padding and legs to hold it off the floor.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • By that same time next year, Munn had a nipple delay procedure, lymph node dissection, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 10 Apr. 2025
  • By the time Survivor’s post-merge double elimination episode was complete, only one original Vula member stood to live another day.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This is not a hoax, this is a group of concerned citizens.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • When an apparent white supremacist bomb threat was called (later determined to be a hoax), police officers instructed protesters to exit the building.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The film, which is represented internationally by Pathé, follows a woman who leaves her hometown to forge a bigger and better life for herself, but must return home because of a family emergency.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Cuban forged a particular bond with Dumont, sensing long-term business opportunities with the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, Sheldon’s widow.
    C. Clark, D. Aldridge, S. Amick, F. Katz, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Read: America is done pretending about meat All of this social-media attention has been translating into people’s actual eating habits, Victoria Fitzgerald, who oversees Whole Foods Market’s meat merchandising, told me.
    Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The crowd cheered, but Rema was clearly lip-synching and not trying hard to pretend otherwise, pulling the mic away from his mouth while the recording of his voice continued.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The outlet stated that prosecutor Cray explained how the suspect had used a forged license to purchase a gun and 100 cartridges for around $843 (£650) from a private seller.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • She was charged with misdemeanor identity theft and criminal possession of a forged instrument, later pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count.
    Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Over 1,300 federal employees impacted by the Department of Education's March 11 reduction in force received their official separation notices Thursday, according to copies reviewed by ABC News.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The outlet reported that the Biden administration did send copies of the report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in December 2022, but the report was never made available online by the administration.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • What constitutes the crime is to phony up business accounting records to disguise the payments.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
  • In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.
    Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 29 Mar. 2018

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Cite this Entry

“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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