inauthentic
Lacking true origin
Inauthentic means not genuine or real—a fake, a counterfeit, or something falsely presented.
An inauthentic antique is a reproduction passed off as original.
The word also describes behavior that doesn't reflect one's true self: His enthusiasm felt inauthentic.
In existentialist philosophy, inauthentic existence means living according to external expectations rather than one's own values.
Fraudulent imitation
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- bogusCounterfeit or fraudulent
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
imitation · pseudo · sham · ersatz · knockoff · bootleg · forged · falsified
Produced artificially, not natural
- man-madeCreated by humans
- plasticCapable of being molded
- simulatedMade to imitate reality
- fauxArtificial or imitation
manufactured · engineered · processed · fabricated · imitation · nonorganic · virtual · ersatz
Inclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
treacherous · underhanded · scheming · untruthful · disingenuous · insincere · manipulative · two-faced
Decorative outer layer
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- guiseExternal manner shown
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
front · smokescreen · disguise · cover-up · show · window-dressing · posturing · act
Falsely grand or important
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
- put-onDeliberate deception or pretense
- contrivedDeliberately manufactured, unnatural
- forcedMade to occur unwillingly
posed · staged · calculated · theatrical · mannered · studied · self-conscious · artificial
Illegitimate claimant to power
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- wannabeAspiring imitator of others
faker · fraud · quack · mountebank · hypocrite · impersonator · con-artist · huckster
Took for one's use
- commodifiedTurned into tradeable goods
- commercializedExploited for profit
- touristyOverrun by sightseers
- stereotypedReduced to oversimplified traits
exoticized · diluted · westernized · sanitized · bastardized · gentrified · tokenized · superficial
counterfeit
Fraudulent imitation
fraudulent · imitation · pseudo · sham · ersatz · knockoff · bootleg · forged · falsified · fabricated
synthetic
Produced artificially, not natural
faux · manufactured · engineered · processed · fabricated · imitation · nonorganic · virtual · ersatz · constructed
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
duplicitous · treacherous · underhanded · scheming · untruthful · disingenuous · insincere · manipulative · two-faced · lying
veneer
Decorative outer layer
masquerade · front · smokescreen · disguise · cover-up · show · window-dressing · posturing · act · mask
pretentious
Falsely grand or important
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
- put-onDeliberate deception or pretense
- contrivedDeliberately manufactured, unnatural
forced · posed · staged · calculated · theatrical · mannered · studied · self-conscious · artificial · stiff
pretender
Illegitimate claimant to power
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
wannabe · faker · fraud · quack · mountebank · hypocrite · impersonator · con-artist · huckster · swindler
appropriated
Took for one's use
- commodifiedTurned into tradeable goods
- commercializedExploited for profit
- touristyOverrun by sightseers
stereotyped · exoticized · diluted · westernized · sanitized · bastardized · gentrified · tokenized · superficial · gimmicky
- authenticitygenuine, real, fake, counterfeit, bogus
- fakefake, phony, bogus, sham, counterfeit
- Tourist Stuffgift shop, souvenir, postcard, landmark, attraction
inauthenticauthentic
Verified as original
genuine · real · true · actual · legitimate
inauthenticauthentic
Verified as original
traditional · original · genuine · historical · time-honored