Synonyms for

Fake

Verb / feɪk / Another word for fake — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

not real; made to look or seem real in order to deceive people

Synonyms & similar words

shammer imposter misrepresent roleplayer imitation forge faux pseud phoney talkthroughoneshat fudge impostor false pretender sham bullshit postiche counterfeit phony manipulate falsify wangle faker bogus fraud false counterfeit spurious fraudulent imitation artificial mock sham pretend phony bogus forged deceptive misleading untrue disingenuous feigned fabricated manufactured plastic

Synonyms by register

Formal

spurious counterfeit bogus unauthentic

Informal

phony bogus sham lame

Literary

apocryphal mendacious simulated

Antonyms

real genuine authentic true actual legitimate original

Common collocations

  • fake news
  • fake ID
  • fake smile
  • fake tan
  • fake account
  • fake money
  • fake tears

Word family

noun fake
verb fake
adjective fake
adverb falsely

Usage note

While 'fake' can be used as a noun, verb, and adjective, it is most commonly used as an adjective. As a noun, it often refers to something intended to deceive. Be mindful of its informal connotations when used in formal contexts.

Example sentences

  1. He was wearing a fake mustache.
  2. She bought a fake designer purse.
  3. The painting was determined to be a fake.
  4. He has a fake ID.
  5. The politician gave a fake smile.

Quotes

  • "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
  • "I'm a fake fact factory. The things I make are the things I make up." - Chuck Palahniuk
  • "Fake news is a big thing in the field of social media manipulation." - Brittany Kaiser

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