Hoax
noun
A misleading trick or false report meant to fool people.
The news about the celebrity's death was just a hoax.
Often appears as...
- spread a hoax
- fall for a hoax
verb
To trick or deceive someone with a false report or claim.
They hoaxed the public into believing their product could cure any disease.
Often appears as...
- hoax someone into believing
- hoax the public
noun
A misleading trick or false report meant to fool people.
The news about the celebrity's death was just a hoax.
Often appears as...
- spread a hoax
- fall for a hoax
verb
To trick or deceive someone with a false report or claim.
They hoaxed the public into believing their product could cure any disease.
Often appears as...
- hoax someone into believing
- hoax the public
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Intent to Deceive
Understand that 'hoax' implies a deliberate attempt to deceive people, not an accidental falsehood.
The email claiming I won a prize turned out to be a hoax.
Pro Tip 2/3Aim for Skepticism
A hoax often requires a skeptical approach since it appears plausible but is fake.
The alien sightings were nothing more than an elaborate hoax.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Connotations
'Hoax' often carries negative social implications; it can damage reputations if one falls for it.
He was embarrassed after propagating a hoax about the mayor.
Pro Tip 1/3Intent to Deceive
Understand that 'hoax' implies a deliberate attempt to deceive people, not an accidental falsehood.
The email claiming I won a prize turned out to be a hoax.
Pro Tip 2/3Aim for Skepticism
A hoax often requires a skeptical approach since it appears plausible but is fake.
The alien sightings were nothing more than an elaborate hoax.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Connotations
'Hoax' often carries negative social implications; it can damage reputations if one falls for it.
He was embarrassed after propagating a hoax about the mayor.
Pro Tip 1/3Intent to Deceive
Understand that 'hoax' implies a deliberate attempt to deceive people, not an accidental falsehood.
The email claiming I won a prize turned out to be a hoax.
Pro Tip 2/3Aim for Skepticism
A hoax often requires a skeptical approach since it appears plausible but is fake.
The alien sightings were nothing more than an elaborate hoax.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Connotations
'Hoax' often carries negative social implications; it can damage reputations if one falls for it.
He was embarrassed after propagating a hoax about the mayor.
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Video examples
Where good ideas come...
because they were afraid people would think it was a hoax, basically, so they made it really easy to find. So these guys are sitting there, listening to this signal, and people start coming into the office and saying, "That's pretty cool. Can I hear?" And before long, they think, "Jeez, this is kind of historic.
Video examples
Mapping the Unknown,...
it's certainly that's why we're we were talking before it makes me laugh when you know the scientific community is accused of making a concerted effort of some kind of hoax whether its climate change or something else our job I get paid to rip apart my colleagues papers I mean that's how you make a name for
Video examples
How you can help...
despite the fact that it's extraordinarily unhelpful and used to describe a number of things that are actually very lies, rumors, hoaxes, conspiracies, propaganda. And I really wish we could stop using a phrase that's been co-opted by politicians right around the world, from the left and the right,
Video examples
The world’s most...
Over the years, three main theories about the manuscript's text have emerged. The first is that it's written in cypher, a secret code deliberately designed to hide secret meaning. The second is that the document is a hoax written in gibberish to make money off a gullible buyer.
Video examples
This Crazy Tree Grows 40...
would have to go back over and over to continue to harvest all the fruit the project is for me always an art project I was really interested in the idea of a hoax in terms of you know hoax
Video examples
When technology...
so as these portraits fade they evoke the idea of lost memory I hope that I'm convincing is that by learning to speak the language of cells that we can hoax them into doing so much saving
Video examples
Bigfoot, USA PIPE National...
Ray's family suddenly came out and said actually it's all a big hoax because ray had made two huge wooden feet and had made the footprints I bear that course of head-scratching
Video examples
Dan Dennett: Responding...
why the Intelligent Design movement is basically a hoax. The designs discovered by the process of natural selection are brilliant, unbelievably brilliant.
Video examples
Crop Circle Mystery PIPE...
countered the claims it's not at all and as the designs have evolved enthusiasts argue that there's proof not all circles are made by hoaxes
Video examples
Loch Ness Sightings PIPE...
many in the scientific community have dismissed eyewitness reports as unreliable citing wildlife hoaxes and optical illusions
Video examples
Where good ideas come...
because they were afraid people would think it was a hoax, basically, so they made it really easy to find. So these guys are sitting there, listening to this signal, and people start coming into the office and saying, "That's pretty cool. Can I hear?" And before long, they think, "Jeez, this is kind of historic.
Video examples
Mapping the Unknown,...
it's certainly that's why we're we were talking before it makes me laugh when you know the scientific community is accused of making a concerted effort of some kind of hoax whether its climate change or something else our job I get paid to rip apart my colleagues papers I mean that's how you make a name for
Video examples
How you can help...
despite the fact that it's extraordinarily unhelpful and used to describe a number of things that are actually very lies, rumors, hoaxes, conspiracies, propaganda. And I really wish we could stop using a phrase that's been co-opted by politicians right around the world, from the left and the right,
Video examples
The world’s most...
Over the years, three main theories about the manuscript's text have emerged. The first is that it's written in cypher, a secret code deliberately designed to hide secret meaning. The second is that the document is a hoax written in gibberish to make money off a gullible buyer.
Video examples
This Crazy Tree Grows 40...
would have to go back over and over to continue to harvest all the fruit the project is for me always an art project I was really interested in the idea of a hoax in terms of you know hoax
Video examples
When technology...
so as these portraits fade they evoke the idea of lost memory I hope that I'm convincing is that by learning to speak the language of cells that we can hoax them into doing so much saving
Video examples
Bigfoot, USA PIPE National...
Ray's family suddenly came out and said actually it's all a big hoax because ray had made two huge wooden feet and had made the footprints I bear that course of head-scratching
Video examples
Dan Dennett: Responding...
why the Intelligent Design movement is basically a hoax. The designs discovered by the process of natural selection are brilliant, unbelievably brilliant.
Video examples
Crop Circle Mystery PIPE...
countered the claims it's not at all and as the designs have evolved enthusiasts argue that there's proof not all circles are made by hoaxes
Video examples
Loch Ness Sightings PIPE...
many in the scientific community have dismissed eyewitness reports as unreliable citing wildlife hoaxes and optical illusions
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Michael Essien
Ghanaian Athlete
Together with Milan and our media team, we released a statement clearly stating it was a hoax and there was no truth in the rumour that I had Ebola. And that's when the whole thing started to die down. Still, it took about two days or so for people to actually stop talking about it.
Quote examples
John Mellencamp
American Musician
Sound quality was supposed to be one of the big selling points for CDs but, as we know, it wasn't very good at all. It was just another con, a get-rich-quick scheme, a monumental hoax perpetrated on the music consuming public.
Quote examples
Jim Inhofe
American Politician
The hoax is that there are some people who are so arrogant to think that they are so powerful, they can change climate. Man can't change climate.
Quote examples
Dwight Schultz
American Actor
We all have a right to know, and if the government has been suppressing information about other life forms, that's the cruelest hoax of all.
Quote examples
Kevin Young
People sometimes say hoaxes are about the blurry line between nonfiction and fiction. I just don't think it's a blurry line at all.
Quote examples
Stephanie Ruhle
American Journalist
Just because something doesn't confirm your existing beliefs does not mean it's a hoax.
Quote examples
Clint Eastwood
American Actor
President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.
Quote examples
August Wilson
American Playwright
How do we transform loss? ... Time's healing balm is essentially a hoax.
Quote examples
Alan Watts
English Philosopher
Unless one is able to live fully in the present, the future is a hoax.
Quote examples
Elvis Presley
American Singer
I've never written a song in my life. It's all a big hoax.
Quote examples
Michael Essien
Ghanaian Athlete
Together with Milan and our media team, we released a statement clearly stating it was a hoax and there was no truth in the rumour that I had Ebola. And that's when the whole thing started to die down. Still, it took about two days or so for people to actually stop talking about it.
Quote examples
John Mellencamp
American Musician
Sound quality was supposed to be one of the big selling points for CDs but, as we know, it wasn't very good at all. It was just another con, a get-rich-quick scheme, a monumental hoax perpetrated on the music consuming public.
Quote examples
Jim Inhofe
American Politician
The hoax is that there are some people who are so arrogant to think that they are so powerful, they can change climate. Man can't change climate.
Quote examples
Dwight Schultz
American Actor
We all have a right to know, and if the government has been suppressing information about other life forms, that's the cruelest hoax of all.
Quote examples
Kevin Young
People sometimes say hoaxes are about the blurry line between nonfiction and fiction. I just don't think it's a blurry line at all.
Quote examples
Stephanie Ruhle
American Journalist
Just because something doesn't confirm your existing beliefs does not mean it's a hoax.
Quote examples
Clint Eastwood
American Actor
President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.
Quote examples
August Wilson
American Playwright
How do we transform loss? ... Time's healing balm is essentially a hoax.
Quote examples
Alan Watts
English Philosopher
Unless one is able to live fully in the present, the future is a hoax.
Quote examples
Elvis Presley
American Singer
I've never written a song in my life. It's all a big hoax.
Example 1 of 10
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