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

Roberson is accused of trying to pay for food with counterfeit money and stealing money from a Sonic employee. —

Pilar Arias, Fox News, 24 Oct. 2024 The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. government agency responsible for public health research, has said the counterfeit drug trade as a whole could be worth as much as $431 billion annually, citing analysts. —

Patrick Wingrove, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024

Noun

The main dangers here are similar to the difficulties that have plagued the effectiveness of antibiotics and antimalarial pills: overuse and improper use could lead to drug resistance and counterfeits. —

Abhijit V. Banerjee, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2022 But their promises go mostly unfulfilled, and often the storefronts get shut down for violating policies around dropshipping — the selling of products to customers without ever stocking inventory — or counterfeits. —

Annie Palmer, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2024

Verb

This transparency not only combats counterfeiting but also builds deeper trust with consumers. —

Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 Researchers in computer vision have long grappled with the issue of how to detect copyright infringement, such as logos that are counterfeited or images that are protected by patents. —

Anjana Susarla, The Conversation, 22 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for counterfeit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit

Adjective

April 25: Trump is named an unindicted co-conspirator in Arizona fake election scheme charges.

Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
The show uses every trick in the book from fake snow (actually soap suds) raining down on the audience to towering puppets walking in, and acrobats swinging down with a huge arc of water spray fanning out from their feet behind them.

Caroline Reid, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024