Synonyms of sham

sham 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials

a sofa upholstered in sham leather

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faux
• fake
• synthetic
• simulated
• dummy
• artificial
• false
• imitation
• mock
• bogus
• imitative
• manufactured
• ersatz
• pretend
• factitious
• mimic
• counterfeit
• substitute
• process
• deceptive
• designer
• manipulated
• man-made
• fabricated
• engineered
• pseudo
• phoney
• fraudulent
• cultured
• forged
• misleading
• phony
• concocted
• unauthentic
• adulterated
• doctored
• fudged
• feigned
• spurious
• affected
• tampered (with)
• juggled
• pinchbeck
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• real
• genuine
• natural
• true
• legitimate
• authentic
• bona fide
• valuable
• pure
• quality
• premium
• unadulterated

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• counterfeit
• fake
• false
• forged
• phoney
• phony
• bogus
• imitation
• ornamental
• inauthentic
• spurious
• manufactured
• artificial
• synthetic
• mock
• deceptive
• snide
• unauthentic
• simulated
• misleading
• dummy
• queer
• fabricated
• factitious
• cultured
• substitute
• mimic
• nonfunctioning
• delusive
• man-made

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• real
• genuine
• authentic
• bona fide
• natural
• true
• actual
• unfaked
• valid

3

as in mock

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

the sham friendliness of a salesman trying to sell you something

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mock
• fake
• false
• strained
• unnatural
• pseudo
• mechanical
• simulated
• affected
• artificial
• phoney
• exaggerated
• phony
• bogus
• contrived
• forced
• plastic
• assumed
• theatrical
• feigned
• theatric
• pretended
• spurious
• factitious
• cute
• hollow
• put-on
• unreal
• empty
• calculated
• manufactured
• automatic
• formal
• deliberate
• hypocritical
• pat
• fabricated
• insincere
• unrealistic
• stiff
• unauthentic
• conventional
• labored
• wooden
• hokey
• canned
• concocted
• melodramatic
• facile
• unctuous
• conscious
• histrionic
• impersonal
• rigid
• mealy
• cultivated
• two-faced
• premeditated
• stylized
• double-dealing
• mealymouthed
• mincing
• artful
• simpering
• overdone
• genteel
• studied
• cutesy
• overacted
• inflexible
• goody-goody
• overrefined
• left-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• genuine
• real
• natural
• true
• unaffected
• spontaneous
• artless
• right
• authentic
• realistic
• bona fide
• sincere
• honest
• easy
• ingenuous
• unfeigned
• smooth
• unforced
• uncontrived
• effortless
• unconscious
• impromptu
• instinctive
• unpretending
• impulsive
• extemporaneous
• unstudied
• unrehearsed
• unprompted

sham

2 of 3

noun

ˈsham 

1

as in parody

a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something

condemned the rigged election as a total sham

Synonyms & Similar Words

• parody
• joke
• caricature
• farce
• cartoon
• travesty
• hoax
• mockery
• simulation
• comedy
• burlesque
• pretence
• pretense
• counterfeit
• fake
• forgery
• phony
• phoney
• takeoff
• humbug
• feigning
• lampoon
• knockoff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tribute
• homage

2

as in hoax

an imitation that is passed off as genuine

the diamond turned out to be a sham

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hoax
• counterfeit
• phoney
• phony
• fake
• copy
• reproduction
• forgery
• replica
• humbug
• synthetic
• bastard
• knockoff
• swindle
• spoof
• copycat
• simulation
• fraud
• dummy
• facsimile
• imposture
• shoddy
• mock-up
• gaff
• duffer
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• original

3

as in fraud

one who makes false claims of identity or expertise

that supposed French movie star was a sham

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fraud
• fake
• pretender
• phoney
• imposter
• charlatan
• phony
• faker
• quack
• deceiver
• impostor
• misleader
• mountebank
• ringer
• fakir
• humbug
• actor
• operator
• counterfeiter
• hoaxer
• quacksalver
• sharper
• copycat
• mimic
• imitator
• dissembler
• swindler
• impersonator
• poseur
• skinner
• dodger
• trickster
• duper
• bluffer
• defrauder
• scammer
• fraudster
• feigner
• scamster
• sharpie
• sharpy
• cozener

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• master
• expert
• professional
• ace
• virtuoso
• wizard
• authority
• past master
• maestro
• whiz
• adept
• crackajack
• crackerjack

sham

3 of 3

verb

as in to pretend

to present a false appearance of

shammed a most unconvincing limp just to get sympathy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pretend
• simulate
• assume
• act
• fake
• affect
• pass (for)
• bluff
• feign
• counterfeit
• make believe
• put on
• dissemble
• profess
• conceal
• masquerade
• pose
• forge
• play
• mask
• disguise
• imitate
• camouflage
• let on
• dissimulate
• impersonate
• playact
• feint
• malinger

Synonym Chooser

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

Recent Examples of sham

Adjective

Investing or romance scams involve a fraudster building a relationship with a victim via social media or dating apps, intending to con them out of money through a sham investment opportunity. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025

Their early acts of truth-telling — like refusing to participate in sham elections or other regime fictions — will exact an initial price as the government amps up its means of repression. —Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025

Noun

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

Color choices include oatmeal, cream, and silver – and the shams are sold separately. —Terri Williams, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025