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Definitions

sham

[sham] / ʃæm /
ADJECTIVE
artificial, counterfeit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bogus fictitious fraudulent phony
STRONG
adulterated affected assumed ersatz fake feigned forged lying make believe misleading mock pretended pseudo simulated substitute synthetic
WEAK
bum false so-called spurious untrue
Antonyms
STRONGEST
authentic genuine real
STRONG
honest natural true truthful
NOUN
hoax, trick
Synonyms
STRONGEST
farce forgery fraud hypocrisy mockery travesty
STRONG
burlesque cant caricature cheat counterfeit cover-up deceit deception facade fake fakery feint flimflam imitation impostor imposture jive pretense pretext put on sell smoke spoof
WEAK
false front hypocriticalness pharisaism phoniness snow job
Antonyms
STRONG
frankness openness original reality truth
VERB
trick; pull a hoax
Synonyms
STRONG
act affect ape assume bluff copy counterfeit fake feign imitate invent lie mislead mock pretend simulate sucker
WEAK
do a number fake it make like play possum put on put up a front shuck and jive
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest be original tell the truth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for sham?
The word sham commonly refers to something that’s not what it claims to be—some kind of fraud or fake. This sense of the word can even refer to a person, as in He’s a total fake, a sham—you should see what he’s really like.  Sham is often used even more specifically to refer to something that’s considered a scam, con, or hoax, as in This whole thing is a sham—they’re just trying to get your money.  Sometimes, sham refers to a situation that’s considered illegitimate for some reason, as in The trial was a sham—there wasn’t even a jury. Synonyms for this sense are farce and mockery. Sham can also be used as an adjective for any of these senses, as in sham trial (an illegitimate one), sham marriage (one in which the couple aren’t in a real relationship), or sham version (a fake or knockoff version).
How do you use sham in a sentence?
We use sham in a number of different ways, but they all involve some kind of falseness or fakeness. It’s usually always used negatively. Here are some examples of sham in a sentence:
  • The “charity” event was a sham—it was just an excuse for a tax write-off.
  • I knew something about him seemed fake, but I didn’t expect him to turn out to be a complete sham. 
  • The dictator is known for holding sham elections to give the appearance of legitimacy.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Treated mice had lower levels of collagen, a major component of scar tissue, than untreated mice or those that underwent a sham procedure in which the intestine was cut and reconnected without removing tissue.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

It was surprised by the request for a new trial and the inclusion of sham surgery for the placebo group.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The FDA official said sham procedures had been required in the past and that the requirement wasn’t unusual.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Clark left the city in 2020, a year after the FBI raided City Hall as part of the criminal investigation related to the sham lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

To biologists, the apparent fertility of the upland forest is a sham.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.