pseudo
Not the real
Pseudo functions as a prefix and standalone word meaning false, fake, or pretending to be something it's not.
As a prefix, it attaches to nearly anything: pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-science, pseudonym.
Standing alone, pseudo works as an adjective or noun: The whole ceremony felt pseudo; He's a pseudo who name-drops philosophers he's never read.
The tone is usually dismissive—calling something pseudo suggests it fails to be the genuine article.
Fraudulent imitation
- bogusCounterfeit or fraudulent
- shamFraudulent imitation
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
ersatz · forged · fraudulent · inauthentic · fabricated · imitation · knockoff · faux
Large freight truck
- nearShort distance away
- almostShort of completely
- partialFavoring one side
- approximateNearly accurate but inexact
resembling · quasi · nominal · so-called · self-styled · would-be · supposed · alleged
Faker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- pretenderIllegitimate claimant to power
- fakerOne who pretends
quack · mountebank · humbug · con artist · swindler · deceiver · trickster · snake oil salesman
Deceptive outward appearance
- guiseExternal manner shown
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- veneerDecorative outer layer
disguise · pose · act · bluff · front · pretension · affectation · show
Involving intentional dishonesty
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
insincere · guileful · hypocritical · feigned · specious · fallacious · two-faced · underhanded
Divination by celestial positions
- homeopathyDiluted-substance alternative medicine
- phrenologySkull-bump personality assessment
- numerologyMystical significance of digits
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
creationism · alchemy · parapsychology · debunked · unfounded · unproven · junk science · fringe
counterfeit
Fraudulent imitation
phony · ersatz · forged · fraudulent · inauthentic · fabricated · imitation · knockoff · faux · synthetic
semi
Large freight truck
approximate · resembling · quasi · nominal · so-called · self-styled · would-be · supposed · alleged · purported
charlatan
Faker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- pretenderIllegitimate claimant to power
faker · quack · mountebank · humbug · con artist · swindler · deceiver · trickster · snake oil salesman · phony
facade
Deceptive outward appearance
- guiseExternal manner shown
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
veneer · disguise · pose · act · bluff · front · pretension · affectation · show · smokescreen
fraudulent
Involving intentional dishonesty
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
duplicitous · insincere · guileful · hypocritical · feigned · specious · fallacious · two-faced · underhanded · scheming
astrology
Divination by celestial positions
- homeopathyDiluted-substance alternative medicine
- phrenologySkull-bump personality assessment
- numerologyMystical significance of digits
quackery · creationism · alchemy · parapsychology · debunked · unfounded · unproven · junk science · fringe · charlatan
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, real, fake, counterfeit
- fakefake, phony, bogus, sham, counterfeit
- Greek rootsbio, geo, graph, hydro, hyper
- tricky spellingsaccommodate, acknowledge, acquaintance, acquire, bureau
- compte utilisateuradmin, client, avatar, login, session
- prefixespre-, anti, post-, contra, re-
pseudolegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
certified · credentialed · accredited · official · qualified
- pseudo scienceFalse discipline mimicking rigor
pseudonym, pseudo-intellectual, pseudomonas, pseudoscience, pseudonyms, pseudonymous, pseudonymity, pseudocode, pseudoephedrine