1
as in mocked
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 played
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impersonated
Other counterprotesters mockingly impersonated billionaires by donning crowns or top hats.
—
Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
That was clear 22 years ago when, at a postgame party celebrating the Pats’ AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Vrabel saw that Belichick had called me, seized my phone, impersonated my voice and asked a highly technical question about his alignment on a specific play.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Brands impersonated in new attacks.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
In that case, attackers impersonated legitimate apps and walked users through terminal commands that installed the same AMOS infostealer.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
In 1993, Chris Farley impersonated Reiner in a cold open alongside Phil Hartman’s President Bill Clinton.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
The show’s cast members also impersonated Bob Dylan, Kate Bush, Yoko Ono, Björk, and Geese frontman Cameron Winter.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
In some cases, those people impersonated a federal agency and phished for personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers, the FCC said.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
That was clear 22 years ago when, at a postgame party celebrating the Pats’ AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Vrabel saw that Belichick had called me, seized my phone, impersonated my voice and asked a highly technical question about his alignment on a specific play.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Brands impersonated in new attacks.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
In that case, attackers impersonated legitimate apps and walked users through terminal commands that installed the same AMOS infostealer.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
In 1993, Chris Farley impersonated Reiner in a cold open alongside Phil Hartman’s President Bill Clinton.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
The show’s cast members also impersonated Bob Dylan, Kate Bush, Yoko Ono, Björk, and Geese frontman Cameron Winter.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
In some cases, those people impersonated a federal agency and phished for personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers, the FCC said.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impersonated
Verb
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How about the woman, believed to be a Chicago Public Schools teacher, who mocked Charlie Kirk’s assassination by using her hand like a gun and putting it to her neck?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some also mocked the add-on fees, including higher charges for larger items.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every one of the NFL’s 32 teams has played a regular-season game outside the United States and is signed up to the league’s Global Markets Program.—
Tom Chitty,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
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Savolainen played a huge role in Finland’s historic run in the 2019 hockey women’s world championship, in which the country made it to the final against the United States who, along with Canada, had previously dominated the competition and its gold medal matches.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Often imitated, never duplicated.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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There were plenty of laughs, as Montero imitated Lester’s pickoff throw and the players told some clubhouse stories, including some fights.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite having the latest safety gear and being in a group of other experienced riders, as well as the assistance of an off-duty Truckee fire department medic, who performed CPR, Thomason did not survive.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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As more Americans moved into cities and more families bought cars, fewer kids walked miles to school or performed farm chores.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Stone portrayed the tennis great in the 2017 film Battle of the Sexes, while Cumming appeared as tennis official Ted Tinling.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
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Some are violent in nature, showing guns pointing at the oppressive establishment, usually portrayed as pigs.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The UConn athletic department acted fast after coach Dan Hurley – and Georgetown coach Ed Cooley – commented on the lack of enthusiasm from the home crowd and some empty seats at men’s basketball games this season.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
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Advertisement White, who believes Stephen acted on impulse, is unequivocal about how his character feels in that moment.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During a recent appearance on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, Barack Obama gave his reaction after an AI video was posted to Donald Trump‘s Truth Social account that depicted the former president and his first lady, Michelle, as apes.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
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The result is a war that mostly remains unseen, at times evoking the way Jonathan Glazer depicted Auschwitz in The Zone of Interest.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Finally, no credible evidence demonstrates the kind of unambiguous, exclusive genocidal intent toward Palestinians that international law requires and that cannot be reasonably interpreted otherwise.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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As a judge, my responsibility is not to evaluate whether legislation is good or bad policy, but to apply the law as enacted by the General Assembly and interpreted by appellate courts.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impersonated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impersonated. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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