COUNTERFEIT Synonyms: 165 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

counterfeit 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌfit

Definition of counterfeit next

as in fake

being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud counterfeit currency that had been passed all over town

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in double

not being or expressing what one appears to be or express when it comes to the poor, his compassion is so counterfeit—he gives a damn, and that's all that he gives

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

counterfeit

2 of 3

noun

as in hoax

an imitation that is passed off as genuine the will as well as the other documents turned out to be counterfeits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

original

counterfeit

3 of 3

verb

as in to fake

to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive an expert at counterfeiting money

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to pretend

to present a false appearance of managing to counterfeit a happy expression while visiting a sick friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Examples 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

Over 30 online retailers were identified in the report identified as engaged in selling counterfeit products. —

Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2025 Potential trade tariffs between Eastern and Western governments could prompt a surge in counterfeit products as markets adjust. —

Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025

Noun

The National Crime Prevention Council believes counterfeiting is an even bigger problem, pegging counterfeits as a $2 trillion business at the end of 2023. —

Adriana Lee, WWD, 26 Nov. 2024 Haotian Sun and Pengfei Xue exploited Apple's iPhone repair process by sending more than 6,000 counterfeit phones to the manufacturer that couldn't be repaired, in order to induce the company to replace the counterfeits with genuine iPhones, federal prosecutors said this week. —

Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2024

Verb

The Order, in theaters today (Dec. 6), stars Jude Law as a fictional FBI agent who leaves his family to track down a gang of white nationalists robbing banks and counterfeiting money. —

Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024 Brand protection is increasingly important for the sought after—and often counterfeited—label. —

Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for counterfeit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit

Adjective

The group’s stage show would double as something like a live-act pilot for a fake TV series.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
How fake tech controversy is employed to promote The Brutalist.

— Armond White, National Review, 24 Jan. 2025