1
as in mocks
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 plays
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 impersonates
But only male pilots can apply—so Wooram goes full Twelfth Night and impersonates her twin brother Boram, with his blessing.
—
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Like that video where Bryan Cranston impersonates Art Garfunkel at Central Park, and his bouffant gets bigger every time the camera cuts back.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Feb. 2026
Those that fear dust mites and other allergens will be pleased to know this $40 pick from Quince impersonates hotel luxury pillows without the goose down or the price point.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
When an escaped Eleven finds her way to a diner (the image of a bald Brown in a hospital gown shoving fries into her mouth is indelible), Brenner’s team impersonates social services, kills the kind proprietor, but fails to apprehend her.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Dec. 2025
The scam impersonates Walmart and claims someone has made an expensive PS5 order through the user’s account.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
If targets dispute the claims, they are transferred to another caller, who impersonates Chinese law enforcement.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Friedland then impersonates his grandmother’s South African accent, to Kind’s delight.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Brit star David Mitchell picked up a best actor nomination for his turn as a socially awkward puzzle-maker who impersonates his missing detective twin brother, in BBC hit Ludwig, with the show also scoring a best comedy nom.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Like that video where Bryan Cranston impersonates Art Garfunkel at Central Park, and his bouffant gets bigger every time the camera cuts back.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Feb. 2026
Those that fear dust mites and other allergens will be pleased to know this $40 pick from Quince impersonates hotel luxury pillows without the goose down or the price point.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
When an escaped Eleven finds her way to a diner (the image of a bald Brown in a hospital gown shoving fries into her mouth is indelible), Brenner’s team impersonates social services, kills the kind proprietor, but fails to apprehend her.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Dec. 2025
The scam impersonates Walmart and claims someone has made an expensive PS5 order through the user’s account.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
If targets dispute the claims, they are transferred to another caller, who impersonates Chinese law enforcement.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Friedland then impersonates his grandmother’s South African accent, to Kind’s delight.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Brit star David Mitchell picked up a best actor nomination for his turn as a socially awkward puzzle-maker who impersonates his missing detective twin brother, in BBC hit Ludwig, with the show also scoring a best comedy nom.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impersonates
Verb
-
The group openly mocks Jesus Christ and many Christian and Catholic traditions.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is demanding all copies of Unethical Hoops, a new Operation-style board game that mocks his foul-drawing reputation, be destroyed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Jessie Mei Li, who plays the American Cola despite being resolutely English, agrees.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
-
Since at least 2010, the father and son have sought to bring clients together by holding World Cup watch parties at new properties, particularly when Brazil plays.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The undulating roofline imitates the Allegheny Mountains, and 38 steel columns create a canopy reminiscent of the region's forests, Prix Versailles says.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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My mother imitates me, then converts the word into a pair of Korean syllables that sound most like the German.—
Esther Yi,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Mitre’s film portrays the birth of a civil resistance movement and the state’s infiltration operation designed to destroy it.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 June 2026
-
Depicting her friendship with the trans actress Candy Darling (a sensitive turn by Stephen Dorff), the story portrays how Solanis came to write her notorious SCUM Manifesto (an acronym for the Society for Cutting Up Men) and the spiral of rejection that led to her desperate act of violence.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Oliver Tree performs at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago, on Thursday, July 29, 2021.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
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There's a very important task, so somebody performs a task, somebody else approves.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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One depicts Putin being cradled in the arms of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.—
Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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This accumulation of unmade decisions creates anxiety, decision fatigue, and mental paralysis, as the brain interprets uncertainty as a threat.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Although no policy changes are expected this week, investors are looking for whether Warsh will signal changes in how the Fed communicates its economic views or interprets inflation data.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impersonates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impersonates. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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