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mock

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adjective

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mock

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mock distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mock are ape, copy, imitate, and mimic. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

When is ape a more appropriate choice than mock?

The synonyms ape and mock are sometimes interchangeable, but ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When would copy be a good substitute for mock?

While the synonyms copy and mock are close in meaning, copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to mock?

Although the words imitate and mock have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When is it sensible to use mimic instead of mock?

While in some cases nearly identical to mock, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mock
Verb
What happens when women lean into their sexuality Ultimately, this fixation about what women wear and their sense of humor reflects the rise of modern-day internet police who dissect, judge and mock others behind a screen. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 Scarlett Johansson mocked the trio in their last Please Don’t Destroy video at the end of Season 50. Peter White, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
In a playful TikTok post, Izzy revealed her exit by tearing up a mock Bid Day card while relaxing in Orange Beach, far from campus. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025 SpaceX’s Starship rocket on Tuesday deployed its first batch of mock Starlink satellites in space and tested new heat shield tiles on its plunge through Earth’s atmosphere, clinching development milestones that had been held up by a streak of previous testing failures. Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Perfect for Any Occasion This frozen mock margarita isn’t just for Cinco de Mayo. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025 The mocks: He’s projected to go in the fourth round/136th overall by ESPN’s Reid; in the fourth round (105th) by Brugler; and in the sixth round (209th) by NFL.com’s Reuter. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
Verb
  • Stars like Doja Cat and Lizzo have enjoyed poking fun and parodying the ads.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • For the social media stars — whose content parodies their real lives through comedic skits — the new baby will also present an opportunity for new kinds of videos.
    Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Wednesday ridicules Pugsley for making a zombie.
    Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
  • One of the primary barriers to feeling completely safe with your partner is the fear of being judged, mocked and ridiculed for being honest or opening up.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fischer faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, disobeying traffic control signals, failure to drive in the proper lane, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to display plates and engaging police in a pursuit.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Yet, shortly after the district court granted plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order, defendants appear to have disobeyed it.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Subtle bits of faux wheat give it additional texture, and there’s an attached loop in the back for easy hanging.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Pair the duo with fairy lights, a thin linen runner, and more faux foliage to create a stunning seasonal scene.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Federal Trade Commission issued an alert earlier in 2025 to encourage parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with responding to a fake text.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
  • To make Reen feel comfortable and truly welcomed, Long’s entire extended family wore fake tattoo sleeves to the reunion.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Related Stories Farrelly thinks that kind of oppressive political correctness is fading and that audiences are eager to see movies that eviscerate good taste in order to land a joke again.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • What started as a joke soon turned into a tourism draw that put Lajitas on the map.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The panel's agenda for Tuesday's meeting includes a copy of the citizen complaint.
    Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The worst was yet to come, in the shape of the Baines note, a copy of which was forwarded to the Queen.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps, but no machine can imitate my imagination or the memories that pour through me, or feel the fear of extinguishment.
    Adam Verner September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes art imitates life by skipping a generation.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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