variants
also phoney
1
as in fake
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud
a phony watch with a designer logo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bogus
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
she always has this phony smile just before she betrays you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meaningless
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
her concern for our welfare is as phony as all get-out—she just wants to know our business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also phoney
1
as in counterfeit
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the fancy "emerald" ring turned out to be a phony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sham
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
the person who performed the liposuction operation was later discovered to be a phony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to fake
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive
the terrorists were able to move around the country using phonied driver's licenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of phony
Chris Westfall, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
That’s where phony romances could enter the picture, King said.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 July 2024
His character, called The Passenger, is unpredictable, violent and has no patience for phonies, though there is an emotional key to his madness.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 29 Mar. 2018
See all Example Sentences for phony 
Adjective
Seems the rising tide of production is lifting all boats - even the phony ones.
—Chris Westfall, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
That’s where phony romances could enter the picture, King said.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
The comment was Vance's response after Beshear had previously called him a phony and not a Kentuckian and implied heavily that nepotism was the only reason Beshear is governor.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 July 2024
His character, called The Passenger, is unpredictable, violent and has no patience for phonies, though there is an emotional key to his madness.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
Verb
What constitutes the crime is to phony up business accounting records to disguise the payments.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
In fact, legislators and regulators are rolling back regulations designed to protect investors, who in this case are estimated to have lost $100 billion to phony Chinese firms.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 29 Mar. 2018
See all Example Sentences for phony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phony
Adjective
-
The fake list contains a few different hyper-obscure characters that seem potentially unlikely to arrive.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
-
But there’s a rule in Wales where you’re not allowed to even have fake cigarettes on a film set.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2024, the agency advises taxpayers and businesses to be especially on the lookout for bogus tax avoidance strategies, fake charities and scammers impersonating the IRS through phishing emails and smishing text messages.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Addressing the faith leaders, Adams said the rumors are bogus.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
These hang-outs largely unfurl as a meaningless montage of coverage, packaged with some punchy, comedy-forward exchanges.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Here are four reasons why seemingly meaningless activities are deeply beneficial to our well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In a report released Wednesday, the office singled out 19 countries that raised concerns of possible movement of counterfeit or pirated drugs.—
Lauren Irwin,
The Hill,
9 Jan. 2025
-
After several investigative leads ended in dead-ends and counterfeits, a promising tip to the FBI prompted a sting operation that ended in agents recovering the fabled slippers in Minneapolis In July 2018.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
7 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Thankfully, the courts have seen through these shams, and in eighteen days, the jig will finally be up.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The president – former President Trump's nominee for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has called this issue of extremism in the military a sham, suggesting that perhaps some of the efforts to end – to combat extremism are going to end.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Whether rekindling old friendships or forging new rivalries, these ladies are ready to make their mark.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
30 Jan. 2025
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With that said, tiles forged from natural materials, like marble or granite, are porous and do not hold up well against steam mops’ moisture and high temps.—
Maria Conti,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But Patel didn’t contradict Trump on his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
-
In early January, Abreu pleaded guilty in Fort Lauderdale federal court to making false statements on three applications to obtain a U.S. passport for himself and his two daughters on Oct. 2, 2021, according to his plea to an indictment.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
This could certainly change if the Rockets land a certain French teenager in this year's draft lottery, but the first half of 2022-23 has assuaged some concerns about the long-term viability of a pseudo-twin-towers in the starting lineup with Jabari Smith flanked by Alperen Şengün.—
Michael Shapiro,
Chron,
15 Jan. 2023
-
In a code division scheme, each call is encoded in a random or pseudo-random sequencing, and receivers at the other end are equipped to decode their own calls.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Apr. 2021
Thesaurus Entries Near phony
Cite this Entry
“Phony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phony. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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