sham

Made to seem real in order to trick people.

• They arranged a sham marriage.
• The opposition called it a sham election.
• A sham investigation helped the company hide its mistakes.

Similar words: fake, false, bogus

Opposites: genuine, real

Common phrases: sham marriage, sham election, sham trial, sham wedding

Something presented as real or honest that is actually false.

• The competition was a sham.
• Their supposed friendship turned out to be a sham.
• She exposed the charity as a sham.

Similar words: fake, fraud, pretence

Common phrases: a complete sham, a total sham, expose a sham

The practice of making false things seem real to trick people.

• He relied on sham and deceit.
• She hated the sham that surrounded court life.
• Their business depended on sham rather than honest work.

Similar words: deception, trickery, deceit

Opposites: honesty

Common phrases: sham and deceit, sham and trickery, practice of sham

To pretend something false is true in order to trick someone.

• He tried to sham illness.
• She shammed a headache to leave early.
• The doctor knew that the patient was shamming.

How to use it: sham something (He shammed an injury to avoid training.)

Similar words: fake, feign, pretend

Common phrases: sham illness, sham an injury, sham being sick, sham a headache