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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.

In the town, the business of sham dog shelters is an open secret.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

The FDA has demanded the company run another trial in which some patients would have to undergo sham brain surgery to serve as a control group.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

"You can be back to your daily routine in about a day. Participants could not tell if they had the sham or real procedure because there are not a lot of symptoms after the procedure."

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

In the lawsuit, the arson investigators alleged that they were targeted with sham investigations, passed up for promotions and other opportunities and subjected to excessive criticism and increased workloads.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Like if you touched it, it would crumble or end up being a sham, hollow.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

sham

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Vocabulary lists containing sham

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Refugee

This Week in Words: April 1 - 6, 2018

sham

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing sham

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Refugee

This Week in Words: April 1 - 6, 2018