1
as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
if it sounds too good to be true, you're probably dealing with a hoaxer in a boiler room somewhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in fraud
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
his college roommate turned out be a complete hoaxer and not the son of a wealthy shipping tycoon he said he was
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hoaxer
The hoaxer is asking for crypto donations.
—
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Officials have received multiple letters claiming to be ransom notes—and seem to have spent much of their time attempting to discern which, if any, might be authentic, and which might be the work of hoaxers.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Officials have received multiple letters claiming to be ransom notes—and seem to have spent much of their time attempting to discern which, if any, might be authentic, and which might be the work of hoaxers.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoaxer
Noun
-
The cheat gets his comeuppance.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Topbag Travel Duffel Bag Bags like this one are my carry-on-only cheat code for extra storage.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Cohen also pointed to her work leading a task force that was convened by court order following a massive fraud scheme involving charter schools in San Diego.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
The Timberwolves exposed the Nuggets as a fraud, a vapid former champion left as a chew toy in the mouth of hungry Wolves.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.—
Kirsten Grieshaber,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Its Orbs are meant to divine the real from the fake.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Hackers with your booking data can write convincing fakes that look urgent.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While the director’s last studio hit, 1999’s Deep Blue Sea, shares shark DNA, the new thriller’s roots are deeply embedded in 1970s disaster movies, not least the truly dreadful Airport ’77.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
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Guest shark Rashaun Williams strapped on his court shoes, wiped them on their mini mat and stomped onto their court.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Use the matching shams with the same color as the quilt facing out for a cohesive design, or mix and match the shams and quilt for a layered look with dimension.—
Caley Sturgill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Etched with a cheery blue bouquet pattern on a soft yellow background, the comforter and matching shams give any room a spring makeover.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The decade ended tumultuously, with the Osmond family’s fortune drained by a series of swindlers and grifters.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
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The New York Times later reported that Bankman-Fried was placed in solitary confinement because the crypto swindler violated the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ rules.—
Andrew Zucker,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film tells the true and twisted tale of a deceiver of land and folk, who, defying her birth as a woman, comported herself as a man and committed many a wicked deed.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Islamic eschatology warned of a deceiver who distorts perception, blurring reality.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hoaxer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoaxer. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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