counterfeit 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌfit How to pronounce counterfeit (audio)
Definition of counterfeitnext
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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

counterfeit

3 of 3

verb

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

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
Investigators said several shell casings were found inside the unit, along with drugs, cash and counterfeit bills. —Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025 This helps fight counterfeit products (yes, fake weed is a thing) and makes the whole process super transparent. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
But buyers should be careful when purchasing tickets online and be wary of counterfeits. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 Some critics allege that U.S. research security is still not properly defending American science and technology against theft or counterfeit by rivals. —Mark Zachary Taylor, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles regularly updates the design and security measures of its driver’s licenses to stay ahead of counterfeiting techniques. —Kaja Andric, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025 Earlier this year, French, Italian, and Swiss police forces teamed up to bust a ring of wine fraudsters who were selling counterfeited Grand Cru wines (the premier designation of quality in French wine) for up to €15,000 a bottle. —Chris Hall, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for counterfeit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit
  1. fake
  2. double
  3. hoax
  4. forge
  5. pretend
  6. forged
  7. copy
  8. phony
Adjective
  • These platforms sell complete phishing kits—web hosting, SMS delivery systems, fake landing pages, encryption tools—to other cybercriminals who want to run scams at scale.
    — Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer, admitted to filing bogus campaign finance reports filled with fake donors and a fake $500,000 personal loan from Santos.
    — Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • By the time Survivor’s post-merge double elimination episode was complete, only one original Vula member stood to live another day.
    — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
  • By that same time next year, Munn had a nipple delay procedure, lymph node dissection, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of double
Noun
  • Dwight Gooden, who was the rookie of the year in 1984, thought the hoax was real at first.
    — New York Daily News, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
  • In reality, the book and the article were the twin prongs of an elaborate hoax — but an important and influential one, Tinline explains in this entertaining history, with reverberations that have lasted into the present era of QAnon and Deep State conspiracy theories.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of hoax
Verb
  • And each chose to forge an entirely new path forward, one that would eventually lead to industry disruption and community transformation.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
  • These days, the Hall of Famer is forging a new, post-football path. ➤ Barry Sanders: Lions turnaround has been 'miraculous': Speaking of 1990s pro football icons, Sanders' electrifying runs filled highlight reels.
    — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of forge
Verb
  • In the post, Oscar can be seen jumping into the ocean into his dad's arms, pretending to fly a plane, smiling with his mom Tana and cheesing on a blue truck.
    — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This prompt gives you enough talking points to contribute thoughtfully without pretending to be an expert.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of pretend
Adjective
  • The outlet stated that prosecutor Cray explained how the suspect had used a forged license to purchase a gun and 100 cartridges for around $843 (£650) from a private seller.
    — Becca Longmire, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • She was charged with misdemeanor identity theft and criminal possession of a forged instrument, later pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count.
    — Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of forged
Noun
  • Both sets sold a little less than 2,000 copies, while streaming activity made up the rest of those 14,000-plus units.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The lawsuit also contains a copy of a cease-and-desist letter from the attorney of Jennifer Rosell, the president of the board when Muse was fired.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of copy
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
Definition of phony

Browse Nearby Words

counterfactual
counterfeit
counterfeited
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Cite this Entry

“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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