impostor syndrome
noun
variants
or imposter syndrome
: a psychological condition that is characterized by persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one's ongoing success
Plucked from semi-obscurity to replace Ann Landers, who died in 2002, Amy Dickinson suffered bouts of imposter syndrome: Who was she to give advice to the millions who read Landers' syndicated column?—
Kim Hubbard
Kim HubbardFormer US first lady Michelle Obama on Thursday urged girls to resist the "impostor syndrome" she had felt on the way up and fight men for power, saying plenty of them didn't deserve it.—Lih Yi Beh
Lih Yi BehExamples of impostor syndrome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The quiet team member might be wrestling with impostor syndrome rather than lacking engagement.
—Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Another one of my clients struggled with impostor syndrome.
—Carrie Anne Yu, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
But here’s the twist: Self-awareness can turn impostor syndrome into a growth tool.
—Kiran Mann, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
From Impostor Syndrome To Inner Superhero Ah, impostor syndrome—the unwelcome guest at many women’s leadership tables.
—Kiran Mann, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impostor syndrome
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Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Another one of my clients struggled with impostor syndrome.
—Carrie Anne Yu, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
But here’s the twist: Self-awareness can turn impostor syndrome into a growth tool.
—Kiran Mann, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
From Impostor Syndrome To Inner Superhero Ah, impostor syndrome—the unwelcome guest at many women’s leadership tables.
—Kiran Mann, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impostor syndrome
Cite this Entry
“Impostor syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impostor%20syndrome. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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