Synonyms for

Hoax

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

Definition

A hoax is a trick or a deception meant to fool people.

Synonyms & similar words

pullsomeonesleg dupery playajokeon humbug fraudulence puton fraud fraud deception trick swindle fake scam cheat imposture fable fabrication sham forgery joke prank trickery put-on bluff deceit ruse gag

Synonyms by register

Formal

deception fabrication ruse stratagem

Informal

prank gag put-on joke

Literary

artifice legerdemain chicanery

Antonyms

truth reality fact honesty authenticity veracity

Common collocations

  • perpetrate a hoax
  • fall for a hoax
  • expose a hoax
  • hoax caller
  • hoax email
  • hoax story
  • a clever hoax

Word family

noun hoax
verb hoax

Usage note

A 'hoax' is a deliberate deception, often intended to be humorous or to mislead. It is typically used for a fabricated story or event presented as real.

Example sentences

  1. The news about the alien invasion was just a hoax.
  2. The company's announcement about the new product was a hoax.
  3. The email claiming to be from a prince who needed help was a hoax.
  4. The magician showed us how he created a hoax.
  5. The video of the talking dog was a hoax that went viral.

Quotes

  • 'The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived and dishonest - but the myth - persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.' - John F. Kennedy
  • 'The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.' - Stephen Hawking
  • 'The only way to deal with fear is to face it head on.' - Chuck Norris

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