sham

Meanings

• something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
• a person who makes deceitful pretenses
• make a pretence of
• make believe with the intent to deceive
  • "He shammed a headache"
• adopted in order to deceive
  • "sham modesty"

Synonyms

affect, assume, assumed, dissemble, fake, faker, false, feign, fictitious, fictive, fraud, imposter, impostor, postiche, pretend, pretended, pretender, pseud, pseudo, put on, role player, shammer, simulate