1
as in to imitate
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior a school intruder was caught trying to impersonate a teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to portray
to present a portrayal or performance of interpreters at the living history museum impersonate figures who are known to have actually lived in the colonial town

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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 impersonate Hackers are using the messaging app Telegram and fake websites that impersonate brands to trick users into installing the malware, which will masquerade as popular apps, including TikTok, YouTube, and Google Photos. PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025 Scammers often impersonate real estate professionals and send fake wiring instructions via email. Collyn Wainwright, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025 This kind of fraud, resembling that experienced by Anthony, exploits a person’s emotions, inciting fear and anxiety, by impersonating a grandchild or other family member in distress. Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2025 Consumers increasingly must realize that con artists are often impersonating banks, government agencies and others in authority. Susan Tompor, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impersonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impersonate
Verb
  • Some will welcome it; there is certainly an argument that the attempts to imitate Guardiola’s style, playing from the back against high-class opponents with a plan to press them into mistakes, led to some coaches leading their teams like lambs to the slaughter.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In an instance of art imitating life, the film's soundtrack also achieved great success as the highest-debuting soundtrack of 2025 on the Billboard 200.
    Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But no matter the intent — the intent can be right, but when things get misconstrued, or however the media wants to portray it, that leaves a void of silence and a lot of questions for the guys on our team.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That pic won Safdie best director at Venice and earned Johnson the best reviews of his career portraying UFC fighter Mark Kerr.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • One of the challenges for me as biographer was not to trivalize this obsession, not to mock it in any way.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Their mother began a relationship with a swaggering alcoholic, their future stepfather, who mocked Scott for being soft.
    Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He's played Dante Falconeri on the soap since 2009 and has appeared in over 1,600 episodes as the mob boss.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Betts made a Gold Glove finalist-worthy play for the first out – ranging into the hole to make a backhand play then a jump throw to first.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Till’s motifs swept though the ensemble, as horns, clarinets, bassoons, violin all had a chance to personate the character.
    BY LIBBY HANSSEN, kansascity.com, 3 June 2017
Verb
  • The Cowboys’ passing offense performed well once again, as Dak Prescott and George Pickens connected for a lethal attack, although the run game could not find any momentum with just 31 yards on the day.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In the box score, Mahomes performed beautifully with 257 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-30 through the air, while rushing for 31 yards on 10 carries.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • One of her pieces, which resembles ancient Egyptian stones, depicts Vanessa Williams dancing at Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
    Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The driver in the boat crash The show depicts Paul as a black sheep of the family.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, the real ineptitude occurs a little earlier when River interprets a fight that Gimball has with Jaffrey’s chief of staff, Tyson Bowman (Abraham Popoola), as a physical attack and inserts himself into the scene, setting off this tragicomic series of events.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The Duggan administration has interpreted state law to mean they can’t be repaid.
    Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impersonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impersonate. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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