as in counterfeit
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
a skilled forger who hoaxed the art world into believing that the paintings were long-lost Vermeers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hoax
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
The telltale sign exposing the hoax is a small ALLOD label on the original image, which stands for America’s Last Line of Defense – the satire site behind the post. That label and a satire watermark were meant to signal that the story was fictional.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 30 Mar. 2023
Related:Teen jailed after bomb threat hoax AirDropped to American Airlines passengers in El Paso The passenger was traveling with a companion and both were unharmed, though their clothes were soiled with food and wine.
—Dallas News, 2 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Noun
Trump has called climate change a hoax, put a freeze on permits for some clean energy and pulled the U.S. out of international climate agreements.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
The telltale sign exposing the hoax is a small ALLOD label on the original image, which stands for America’s Last Line of Defense – the satire site behind the post. That label and a satire watermark were meant to signal that the story was fictional.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
Advertisement How aspiring Indian entrepreneurs and students were hoaxed in the quest for funding The World Startup Convention was originally scheduled for Jan. 14-16., before it was postponed to March 24-26.
—Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 30 Mar. 2023
Related:Teen jailed after bomb threat hoax AirDropped to American Airlines passengers in El Paso The passenger was traveling with a companion and both were unharmed, though their clothes were soiled with food and wine.
—Dallas News, 2 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hoax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoax
Noun
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Cases of counterfeits have been rare, but with prices rising into the six- and seven-figure range, obtaining that certified guarantee is important.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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Thousands of counterfeit forever stamps were blocked from entering postal circulation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Alabama, officials said.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Increasingly, criminals are able to use commonly available tools to launch sophisticated phishing scams, going as far as digitally replicating faces and voices in order to trick security systems.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Phishing is a cyber-attack that aims to trick people into divulging personal information.—
Solcyré Burga,
TIME,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This is a cruder example of how artificial intelligence is being used to create deep fakes.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe health care provider visits.—
Kimberly Stoney,
Parents,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This pair looks like a classic trouser, with front pleats and a relaxed leg — but don’t be fooled.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2025
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Do not be fooled by this bill’s carve-out for masks worn for health and religious reasons.—
Nikki Morse,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The cotton quilt is lightweight enough for year-round use and includes two matching shams to complete the look.—
Megan Schaltegger,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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The decision to annul November’s election had little precedent and handed a propaganda victory to Moscow, which has long dismissed Western democracy as a sham in which elites fix the results to suppress unorthodox views and guarantee an outcome favorable to the liberal establishment.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Holding a lot of cash in the bank may feel like the absolute most comfortable option, but don’t be deceived.—
Eric Roberge,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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Any clinic that is promising instant, full growth in a few weeks is deceiving you.—
Rowan Briggs,
The Mercury News,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Context Mangione, a 26-year-old accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, faces charges of gun possession and forgery.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
26 Dec. 2024
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In Pennsylvania, Mangione is charged with five counts: forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and presenting false identification to law enforcement.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For a Gen X-er raised on movies that skewered phonies and wannabes, the thought of being a poser was, in the end, far more offensive to his sensibilities than being potentially bland.—
Rachel Syme,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
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The answer is important because being a phony is hard work.—
LaRae Quy,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Hoax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoax. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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