Phony
Phony noun - One who makes false claims of identity or expertise.
Usage example: the person who performed the liposuction operation was later discovered to be a phony
Pretender is a synonym for phony in impostor topic. In some cases you can use "Pretender" instead a noun "Phony", when it comes to topics like true, dissembler. popular alternative
Pretender
Pretender noun - One who makes false claims of identity or expertise.
Usage example: it turns out that the guy who claimed to work for a modeling agency was just a pretender
Phony is a synonym for pretender in true topic. You can use "Phony" instead a noun "Pretender", if it concerns topics such as impostor, dissembler. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Pretender and Phony. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/phony/pretender
Phony & Pretender. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/phony/pretender>.
Pretender or Phony. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/phony/pretender.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "phony" and "pretender" have occurred on timeline