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

In the United States, customs authorities seized more than 78 million counterfeit goods in fiscal year 2025, more than twice the number seized a year earlier. — Ganna Pogrebna, Harvard Business Review, 8 Oct. 2026 The counterfeit market on Canal Street operates in plain sight. — Daniel Edward Rosen, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

Masherah also emphasized keeping Jordan with Upper Deck provides collectors a safe place to acquire authenticated Jordan autographed memorabilia when there are so many fakes and counterfeits floating around. — Larry Holder, New York Times, 8 July 2026 To me, the result didn’t taste like a cheap counterfeit but a breakthrough. — Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026

Verb

Treat brand as your most defensible asset, the one form of intellectual property a machine cannot counterfeit into existence. — Charles Lew, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 The model can spot obvious fakes, but Fleek also runs quality-check centers in Karachi and Delhi that inspect items from brands and categories its data has flagged as frequently counterfeited. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterfeit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterfeit

Adjective

When Lee gets to the visitation window, there’s a fake Mekko sitting across from him.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The fake image was attention-grabbing, shady, and timely — in other words, perfect for social media virality but a potential liability for the parties involved.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

The double-slit experiment, for example, is a classic setup where scientists send particles through two gaps in a screen and observe a resulting interference pattern, proving that the particles act as waves.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Saturday night, the Hurricanes outlasted Florida State, 43-35, the double overtime game adding another epic episode to the rivalry.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of double

Verb

Lightbulb was also accompanied by a kilonova, a bright surge of radiation involving oodles of neutrons—the very kind that could kick-start the r-process and forge all those heavy elements.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
It was forged by five carries, including a 33-yard touchdown run, by the revelation that is Kenneth Walker III.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of forge

Verb

Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
In a news release, police said that 25-year-old Baldwin Park resident Juan Carlos Amaya contacted the teenage girl via Snapchat and began talking to her while pretending to be 17 years old.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretend

Adjective

Screening mammograms miss about one in eight breast cancers overall, and people with dense breasts are more likely to get false-negative results, the American Cancer Society reports.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Overall, screening mammograms miss about one in eight breast cancers, and people with dense breasts are more likely to get false-negative results.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of false

Noun

Researchers at the company tested how AI models might act as computer worms, programs that move between devices and leave copies of themselves behind, among everyday household gadgets.

— Peter Hall, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026
The Miami Herald was unsuccessful in reaching Dorworth, but did reach his former attorney who asked for a copy of the lawsuit.

— Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of copy

Cite this Entry

Style

“Counterfeit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterfeit. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of counterfeit

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noun

verb

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