English dictionary



Info: This web site is based on WordNet 3.0 from Princeton University.

English adjective: sham

1. sham adopted in order to deceive


SamplesAn assumed name.
An assumed cheerfulness.
A fictitious address.
Fictive sympathy.
A pretended interest.
A put-on childish voice.
Sham modesty.


Synonymsassumed, false, fictitious, fictive, pretended, put on


Similarcounterfeit, imitative


Antonymsecht, genuine


English noun: sham

1. sham (artifact) something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be


Synonymsfake, postiche


Broader (hypernym)imitation


Narrower (hyponym)fake book, Potemkin village

2. sham (person) a person who makes deceitful pretenses


Synonymsfake, faker, fraud, imposter, impostor, pretender, pseud, pseudo, role player, shammer


Broader (hypernym)beguiler, cheat, cheater, deceiver, slicker, trickster


Narrower (hyponym)name dropper, ringer


English verb: sham

1. sham (creation) make a pretence of


SamplesShe assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger.
He feigned sleep.


Synonymsassume, feign, simulate


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)act, dissemble, pretend


Narrower (hyponym)feint, play

2. sham (communication) make believe with the intent to deceive


SamplesHe feigned that he was ill.
He shammed a headache.


Synonymsaffect, dissemble, feign, pretend


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE.
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE


Broader (hypernym)belie, misrepresent


Narrower (hyponym)bull, bullshit, fake, mouth, play possum, take a dive, talk through one's hat


Verb groupmake, make believe, pretend









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