as in counterfeits
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the skeleton of the purported ancient hominid turned out to be a hoax
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tricks
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
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Recent Examples of hoaxes
Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, has also been the subject of death hoaxes in the past, including in 2018, when a fake article reporting his death circulated online.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Although investigators received many tips, some were hoaxes and others didn’t lead to any developments.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
From online hoaxes about wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii to Russian and extremist propaganda during Hurricane Helene, information manipulation is warping responses to climate change and extreme weather.
—Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
District officials in multiple regions noted the threats appeared to match similar hoaxes reported in recent weeks statewide and across the country.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Feb. 2026
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
Over a recent five-year span, 4% of Amber Alerts nationwide were determined to be hoaxes, where people intentionally misled law enforcement.
—Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, has also been the subject of death hoaxes in the past, including in 2018, when a fake article reporting his death circulated online.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Although investigators received many tips, some were hoaxes and others didn’t lead to any developments.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
From online hoaxes about wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii to Russian and extremist propaganda during Hurricane Helene, information manipulation is warping responses to climate change and extreme weather.
—Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
District officials in multiple regions noted the threats appeared to match similar hoaxes reported in recent weeks statewide and across the country.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Feb. 2026
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoaxes
Noun
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Greece, home to an extensive repository of cultural artifacts, has long contended with the proliferation of counterfeits and the looting of archaeological sites.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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By 2009, Nakamoto took Bitcoin from theory to reality, mining the Genesis Block, and then, once the rules were set, protections against counterfeits were secured, and Bitcoin began to circulate—still worth next to nothing—Nakamoto vanished.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One possible danger is a rogue network that tricks people into joining.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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San Diego startup Neomorph on Monday announced a new $100 million investment for its molecular glue that tricks cancer cells into self-destructing.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Swift’s likeness has been used without permission in numerous AI fakes, including by Meta’s AI chatbots and in pornographic images that have circulated on the internet.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Hackers with your booking data can write convincing fakes that look urgent.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The forgeries’ provenance traced their passage through Italian auction houses and exposed a multinational network of suppliers.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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Plans are now underway for a contemporary reimagining of the series, which saw McShane play the eponymous roguish and fourth wall-breaking antiques dealer, a likeable anti-hero with a knack for recognizing genuine antiques from fakes or forgeries.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a statement issued Friday, the commission accused X of using its 'blue checkmark' in a way that deceives users.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
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The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The world of Busytown, the whimsical universe created by Scarry, has also found a new audience thanks to Inciardi Prints' beautiful tiny reproductions available through Ana Inciardi's Mini Print Vending Machines.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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Visitors can purchase both originals and reproductions.—
Jess Lander,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the month following the March 2 vote on the $6 billion tax breaks, more than 100 residents circulated copies of a petition seeking to bring the financing plan to a public vote.—
Ilana Arougheti
Updated April 28,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
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Moby-Dick initially sold fewer than four thousand copies, of which six hundred were in the United Kingdom.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoaxes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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