er
satz
1
being an artificial, fake, or inferior substitute for something genuine or authentic
- The restaurant served ersatz coffee made from chicory roots, lacking the rich flavor of real beans.
- She wore an ersatz designer handbag, a cheap knockoff purchased from a street vendor.
- The company's ersatz attempt at customer service consisted of automated responses and pre-recorded messages.
- The film's special effects were clearly ersatz, lacking the realism and sophistication of major Hollywood productions.
- The painting was revealed to be an ersatz masterpiece, created by a forger in an attempt to deceive art collectors.
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