Feign: meaning, definitions and examples

Feign is used when someone is pretending to feel or do something, usually to deceive others.

• She feigned illness to avoid going to school
• He tried to feign interest in the boring conversation

Simulate is used when imitating or replicating certain conditions or actions, often for training or experiment purposes.

• The pilot had to simulate various emergency scenarios during training
• The computer program can simulate different weather patterns

Fake is a general term that can refer to anything that is not real, and it often carries a negative connotation.

• She wore fake jewelry to the party
• He used a fake ID to get into the club

Counterfeit is typically used to describe fake money, documents, or goods that are made to deceive people into thinking they are real.

• The police arrested him for making counterfeit money
• Beware of counterfeit products sold online

Fabricate is often used when someone creates a false story, information, or evidence, often with the intention to deceive.

• He fabricated the entire story to avoid getting into trouble
• They found out that the reports had been fabricated

Best used when pretending to feel or be affected by something, especially to deceive others.

• She feigned illness to avoid going to school.
• He noticed she was feigning interest in the conversation.

Usually refers to creating something by combining various elements, often elaborately, and can carry a deceitful connotation.

• The chef concocted a special sauce for the dish.
• She concocted a story to explain her tardiness.

Mostly involves deliberately changing information to mislead someone, often with malicious intent. It has a negative connotation.

• The accountant was caught falsifying financial records.
• He tried to falsify documents to gain an advantage.

Can be used when creating a new device, method, or story. It can be neutral or positive, depending on the context.

• Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
• She invented a clever excuse for being late.

Often used when creating a story or excuse, and can imply that the information is not true or authentic.

• He made up a story to impress his friends.
• She made up an excuse to skip the meeting.