Sham
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A fake; an imitation that purports to be genuine. Trickery, hoaxing. A decorative cover for a pillow.
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To deceive, cheat, lie.
Example sentence: Our assessment of socio-economic worth is largely a sham. We scientists should not lend ourselves to it - though we routinely do. We should, instead, insist on applying the criterion of quality.
Feign
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To give a mental existence to something that is not real or actual; to imagine; to invent; to pretend; to form and relate as if true.To represent by a false appearance of; to pretend; to counterfeit.To dissemble; to conceal.
Example sentence: There is no more lively sensation than that of pain; its impressions are certain and dependable, they never deceive as may those of the pleasure women perpetually feign and almost never experience.