bogus

adjective

ˈbō-gəs How to pronounce bogus (audio)
Definition of bogusnext
1
as in fake
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials for that price, you're only going to get furniture covered in bogus leather and not the real stuff

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in counterfeit
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud the "designer" watches sold on the street are usually bogus

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in false
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality there was often a lot of bogus conviviality at the company's parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bogus Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle. — CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News Digital on Monday that the FBI has looked into numerous ransom demands since the beginning of the investigation, with some being bogus and others with the potential to be real. — Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 The bogus surgeon, Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, 40, is expected to receive a five-to-15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to performing the deadly medical procedure that claimed the life of María Paz Peñaloza Cabrera on March 28, 2025, Queens prosecutors said. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026 From May 2022 to August 2023, prosecutors allege, Mareik had Patricia Anderson of West Hills sign off on bogus prescriptions for patients Anderson had not seen or that weren’t medically necessary, amounting to $270 million billed to Medi-Cal and $178 million of which Medi-Cal paid out. — Andrea Klick, Daily News, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bogus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bogus
  1. fake
  2. counterfeit
  3. false
  4. faux
  5. forged
  6. mock
  7. synthetic
  8. unnatural
Adjective
  • First was a Drug Enforcement Administration badge and ID with Horsch’s photo on it, but the ID was fake, and Horsch has never worked for the DEA, according to court documents.
    — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • This game preserves the difficulty of coming up with an elaborate, consistent false narrative on the spot, and the challenge of adapting that narrative on the fly when other players present convincing (and sometimes fake) counter-evidence.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • Investigators also caught the brothers with at least 15 counterfeit and unauthorized bank cards, prosecutors said.
    — Joe Marusak July 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
  • The case focused on Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese citizen and green-card holder, who was charged with selling nearly $300,000 in counterfeit shorts before returning from a 2012 trip.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of counterfeit
Adjective
  • The charge alleges a person knowingly defrauded another by using false or misleading information to obtain money, property, credit or a loan.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • Opponents of Amendment 5 have flatly called the advertisement misleading or false.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of false
Adjective
  • Inside, a memory foam insole with arch support cushions every step, and the soft faux leather molds to your ideal fit over time.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • The white interior and faux leather are also available in Overland and reviewed Limited trims.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • She was additionally found guilty of insurance fraud for taking out a $100,000 insurance policy on her husband's life with his forged signature and for submitting a claim following his death.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Definition of forged
Adjective
  • Those included a charmingly cluttered Bucket family home, a lush candyland with the smell of chocolate piped through the Royal Theater to complement the full-size mock chocolate river, and a glass elevator that flew above the audience.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Grindlinger is a two-way standout from Southern California who Baseball America had going to Boston in its latest mock draft.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 July 2026
Definition of mock
Adjective
  • Tight or synthetic clothing can increase bacterial growth on the skin, including in areas that promote UTIs, due to additional sweating.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Their work ultimately led to the creation of the first synthetic hydrogel made from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), or pHEMA.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Even after extensive engineering, Coach Eve would take about three seconds to reply to a question—a delay users felt was uncomfortable and unnatural.
    — Benjamin Wolff, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • His speech was an unnatural blur.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of unnatural

Browse Nearby Words

bogs (down)
bogus
bohemian
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Cite this Entry

“Bogus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bogus. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bogus

Nglish: Translation of bogus for Spanish Speakers

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