COUNTERFEIT Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'counterfeit' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of counterfeit are fake , fraud , humbug , imposture , and sham . While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable. // 20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

Q: In what contexts can 'fake' take the place of 'counterfeit'?

The synonyms fake and counterfeit are sometimes interchangeable, but fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty. // these jewels are fakes ; the real ones are in the vault

Q: When is it sensible to use 'fraud' instead of 'counterfeit'?

In some situations, the words fraud and counterfeit are roughly equivalent. However, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth. // the diary was exposed as a fraud

Q: Where would 'humbug' be a reasonable alternative to 'counterfeit'?

The meanings of humbug and counterfeit largely overlap; however, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent. // creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

Q: When might 'imposture' be a better fit than 'counterfeit'?

The words imposture and counterfeit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine. // their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

Q: When would 'sham' be a good substitute for 'counterfeit'?

The words sham and counterfeit can be used in similar contexts, but sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action. // condemned the election as a sham

counterfeit 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌfit

Definition of counterfeit

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

counterfeit

2 of 3

noun

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

original

counterfeit

3 of 3

verb

as in to fake

to imitate or copy especially in order to deceive an expert at counterfeiting money

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to pretend

to present a false appearance of managing to counterfeit a happy expression while visiting a sick friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word counterfeit different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of counterfeit are fake, fraud, humbug, imposture, and sham. While all these words mean "a thing made to seem other than it is," counterfeit applies especially to the close imitation of something valuable.

20-dollar bills that were counterfeits

In what contexts can fake take the place of counterfeit?

The synonyms fake and counterfeit are sometimes interchangeable, but fake implies an imitation of or substitution for the genuine but does not necessarily imply dishonesty.

these jewels are fakes; the real ones are in the vault

When is it sensible to use fraud instead of counterfeit?

In some situations, the words fraud and counterfeit are roughly equivalent. However, fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth.

the diary was exposed as a fraud

Where would humbug be a reasonable alternative to counterfeit?

The meanings of humbug and counterfeit largely overlap; however, humbug suggests elaborate pretense usually so flagrant as to be transparent.

creating publicity by foisting humbugs on a gullible public

When might imposture be a better fit than counterfeit?

The words imposture and counterfeit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

their claim of environmental concern is an imposture

When would sham be a good substitute for counterfeit?

The words sham and counterfeit can be used in similar contexts, but sham applies to fraudulent imitation of a real thing or action.

condemned the election as a sham

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 counterfeit

Adjective

According to the sheriff's office, Major Crimes Detectives responded to the scene to collect evidence, which included several sheets of counterfeit currency. — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 23 June 2026 Lori Ann Talens, of Virginia Beach, Virgina, used a computer to design, create and produce a wide variety of counterfeit coupons in her Virginia Beach home, according to court documents. — Charlotte Hazard, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2026

Noun

Superfakes is about a small-time Chinatown luxury counterfeit dealer who enters a dangerous black-market underworld in order to fund a life of suburban respectability for her family. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026 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

Verb

One source of continuing fascination was an idea shared by a college classmate, Steven Weisner—that using a quantum form of cryptography could enable digital money that could not be counterfeited. — Steven Levy, Wired News, 18 Mar. 2026 Likewise, Operation Bernhard, a Nazi plot to masterfully counterfeit millions in British currency to crash consumer confidence, stirs the plot in a fanciful direction. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterfeit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit

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

Noun

There is some speculation that the coup was a hoax, however, as Roy Bates was later represented in court by one of Sealand’s Dutch occupiers.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Another of WKNA‘s articles even uses a screenshot that was first posted to r/poisonai that shows Google’s AI Overview correctly asserting that reports of Vance’s death are a hoax.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 25 June 2026

Definition of hoax

Verb

For those of us who needed a reminder that the country was not even forged in a vacuum, start here.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
In Phoenix, Steven Dortch, 25, and his brother JayLn Dortch, 23, gathered at Granada Park to try to forge a new July 4 cookout tradition.

— Steven Sloan, Fortune, 5 July 2026

Definition of forge

Verb

Barcenas' tea-sipping celebration was a tribute to Alex Morgan, one of the Wave's owners, who pretended to take a sip of tea after scoring in a match against England during the 2019 Women's World Cup.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Well, Ariana seems to remember, whereas Hudson is determined to just undo the breakup and pretend like none of it ever happened.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026

Definition of pretend

Noun

The early copy remained tucked away in Britain’s National Archives until a volunteer cataloging records from the American Revolutionary War came across it in May among the papers of Royal Navy captains.

— Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Julia Giarmoleo, an EPA spokesperson, said the monitors did not detect elevated metals, but would not provide a copy of the data without a federal records request.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of copy

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of counterfeit

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Synonyms of counterfeit

adjective

noun

verb

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11 Obscure Words for Thieves

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More from Merriam-Webster on counterfeit

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Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

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The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

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Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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The Longest Long Words List

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