mock 1 of 3

Definition of mocknext
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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

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

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
Others shared images from Y2K magazines calling thin female celebrities fat, recalling how anyone not stick-thin would be photographed on the beach or walking down the streets where paparazzi would zoom in on anything remotely close to a bit of weight, to be relentlessly mocked in the media. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 Kenney first mocked up a design for the monument, inspired by the film A League of Their Own, as part of a fifth grade social studies project. Karla Marie Sanford, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Chiefs beat writers Pete Sweeney and Blair Kerkhoff convened in The Star’s (mock) draft room to come up with choices for all nine picks. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026 The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant revealed her WNBA mock draft Friday. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
The evident coup de grâce was a mock up of a Daily News front page that Mamdani’s staff had provided to the President. Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026 Bell has been mentioned here for two consecutive mocks now. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
Verb
  • Over time, Norris also became a web phenomenon, the subject of memes and jokes that parodied his image of invincibility.
    Valentina Colosimo, Vanity Fair, 20 Mar. 2026
  • And of course Burrs, whom Donica plays with titanic, Sweeney-esque feeling and force of baritone, is all the more self-hating and compromised, having made a career parodying himself.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The move was ridiculed by rival Anthropic, which made OpenAI’s ad push the focus of its first Super Bowl campaign.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The deputies, in their testimony, said the songs ridiculed them.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Kyorkian was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, violation of civil rights (hate crime) and disobeying a court order.
    Tim Fang, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • State police said Bishop was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, evading responsibility, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and first-degree reckless endangerment.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • These faux linen drapes from NiceTown build on the versatility of semi-sheers with 16 color choices and both rod pocket and back tab installation options.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The chairs have metal frames for plenty of strength, durability, and stability, but they’re handpainted to offer a faux-wood look that feels more elevated and classic than a typical metal chair.
    Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.
    Adam Kadlac, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
  • With the Heat’s social media team posting a video of the dunks, Jakucionis joked that the video is fake.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • No this is not a joke…Retro Weather Channel is officially back!
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The response to the outcry led to even more jokes online.
    Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • When the investigator asked for a spreadsheet documenting removals, mentioned in testimony by several supervisors, the agency’s then-adult protection director in Miami emailed a copy.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Obtain a digital copy at that same site by clicking on the online link.
    Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The gulls weren’t directly imitating the act of eating.
    Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The gulls weren’t imitating human eating directly but were using the human’s choice as a cue to guide their own foraging decisions.
    Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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