BOGUS Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

bogus

adjective

ˈbō-gəs

Definition of bogus

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Bad tax advice promoted on social media We've been warned in the past about a flurry of bad tax advice by social media influencers that drove thousands of taxpayers to file bogus tax returns that claimed inflated refunds. — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2026 Nearly 3,000 bogus nursing credentials Noreus served as president of Carleen Home Health School in Plantation and was also involved in Carleen Home Health School II in West Palm Beach. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 There have been concerns raised about bogus polls, including the revelation that a recent poll of the Los Angeles mayoral race. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 However, some of the scenes are known to have been staged or faked, leading some critics to wonder whether other parts of the film were bogus or embellished. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bogus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bogus

Adjective

In episode 4, Noah made up an elaborate ruse involving a fake friend’s wedding in Napa — a means of getting Joanne to wine country for a romantic weekend.

— Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2026
The two fans came with their own props even though fake mustaches were given to fans at the entry gates.

— Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

Researchers found that some counterfeit devices even reported legitimate looking Samsung model identifiers.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
San Francisco police said cychlorphine, estimated to be 10 times estimated more powerful than fentanyl, can be found in counterfeit pills designed to look like Xanax, Adderall and Oxycontin.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of counterfeit

Adjective

Experts worry federal law enforcement could potentially use those false claims — or others generated this year — as pretext to try to seize ballots during the counting period, or interfere in the process in some other way.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
The false polling data from Wedgewood Polls consistently favored Democrats, particularly progressive candidates.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of false

Adjective

Her nose was also dotted with the faux freckles that were scattered across the bridge.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Zebra tablecloths and napkins completed the safari theme, and the walls were decorated with faux magazine covers of Bradfield and his partner, auctioneer William Featherby.

— Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of faux

Adjective

Last month’s board election was tainted by forged ballots, including one with a voter’s name misspelled.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
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

An accident in the Chihuahua mountains On April 19, the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office reported the dismantling of a synthetic drug lab in the municipality of Morelos, in the mountains of that state.

— María Verza, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
But every year, millions end up in a landfill after a single use, and many are made from synthetic plastics that don't easily break down, contributing to environmental pollution.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of synthetic

Adjective

Some movements feel unnatural, facial expressions are exaggerated, and small details occasionally fall into the uncanny valley or break rules of logical consistency.

— Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
But closer examination reveals that OpenAI’s proof builds its unnatural force in a totally distinct way.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of unnatural

Browse Nearby Words

bogs (down)

bogus

bohemian

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bogus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bogus. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bogus

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes