1
as in fake
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud
counterfeit currency that had been passed all over town
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in double
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
when it comes to the poor, his compassion is so counterfeit—he gives a damn, and that's all that he gives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hoax
an imitation that is passed off as genuine
the will as well as the other documents turned out to be counterfeits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fake
to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive
an expert at counterfeiting money
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2
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of
managing to counterfeit a happy expression while visiting a sick friend
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterfeit
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2025
The counterfeit market has caught up, with 236,000 Labubu dolls seized at UK borders alone, raising health and safety concerns.
—Will Barker, TheWeek, 30 Dec. 2025
Gabrielle Fonrouge,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Marq Vision was cofounded in 2020 by Mark Lee, a former McKinsey consultant who holds a Doctor of Law from Harvard, to identify counterfeits in online listings using AI.
—Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
He and Baines were imprisoned and questioned for counterfeiting coins, and Marlowe was sent home.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Adjective
Taking prior precedents into account, a 2022 operation found that 96 percent of goods in similar parcel flows were non-compliant or counterfeit, according to a parliamentary report in December.
—Noun
While fake goods have exchanged hands in informal markets since ancient times, the growth of online marketplaces has contributed to the rise in counterfeits because of how easy online shopping and selling have become.
—Verb
The startup also offers legal services against counterfeiting operations in China and the U.S. in partnership with law firms, as well as helping companies handle trademark registrations.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit
Adjective
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Punter Sean West — whose long 24-yard heave on a fake punt outgained every quarterback on the roster.—
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Green expertly applies fake eyelashes, thick foundation and a dessert brown eye look, while Messina goes to work piling tight curls atop my head.—
Adjective
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These ones elevate the trend — pun intended — with comfortable platform soles and double side stripe appliqués.—
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McDonald's has made the Big Arch — a massive double-patty burger — a permanent menu item in the United Kingdom and Ireland.—
Noun
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Trump has called the affordability argument from Democrats a Democratic hoax.—
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While it was initially claimed that the letter was legitimate, it was later confirmed to be a cruel hoax.—
Verb
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Both chambers are expected to forge ahead quickly in the coming weeks.—
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Remind yourself that clear communication can forge uncertainty into cooperation and closeness.—
Verb
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To pretend as if everyone doesn’t recognize him.—
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Parents reported that their children loved playing with the original Nékojita FuFu, pretending to fan their faces and blow-dry their hair.—
Adjective
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Plants that provide winter interest, including sedums, goldenrod, blue false indigo, and ornamental grasses.—
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Today’s teenagers can produce a TikTok video in minutes, but how many of them will learn to analyze the president’s false claim that Tylenol causes autism?—
Noun
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Rawlings' office provided a copy of it to The Enquirer upon request.—
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The film’s star, Whitney Houston, would deliver a version that became the world’s best-selling single that year, shifting some 25 million copies, and winning several Grammys.—
Verb
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What constitutes the crime is to phony up business accounting records to disguise the payments.—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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