Sham

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -æm

Origin

Probably a dialectal form of shame.

Full definition of sham

Adjective

1. Intended to deceive; false.It was only a sham wedding: they didn't care much for one another but wanted their parents to stop hassling them.
2. counterfeit; unreal
• JowettThey scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians.

Synonyms

• mock

Antonyms

• genuine
• sincere
• real

Noun

1. A fake; an imitation that purports to be genuine.The time-share deal was a sham.
2. Trickery, hoaxing.A con-man must be skilled in the arts of sham and deceit.
3. A false front, or removable ornamental covering.
4. A decorative cover for a pillow.

Derived terms

• shamateur

Verb

1. To deceive, cheat, lie.
• L'EstrangeFooled and shammed into a conviction.
2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition.
• L'EstrangeWe must have a care that we do not ... sham fallacies upon the world for current reason.
3. To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape; to feign.

Anagrams

• AMHS
• hams
• HMAS
• mash, MASH