1
as in mocking
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 playing
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
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Recent Examples of impersonating
In 2024, the BBC found several bots impersonating British teenagers Brianna Ghey, who was murdered in 2023, and Molly Russell, who died by suicide at 14 after viewing online material related to self-harm.
—
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
From fake invoices to urgent messages impersonating company executives, phishing attacks are growing more personalized, more sophisticated—and more effective.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Allen was banned from Hinge for impersonating herself.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
The Board of Supervisors also voted Tuesday on a separate proposal to explore options for cracking down on the sale of counterfeit law enforcement gear, like clothing or badges, intended for the purpose of impersonating agents.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025
Justin Simmons, 30, is charged with impersonating a peace officer and kidnapping.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025
Kenan pops up to confront her for impersonating a police officer at her concerts.
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Following the second kidnapping, Berchtold faced several criminal charges, including first-degree kidnapping and impersonating a central intelligence agent.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Heimpold was personally charged with impersonating a police officer for allegedly robbing multiple people in 2021.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Oct. 2025
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
From fake invoices to urgent messages impersonating company executives, phishing attacks are growing more personalized, more sophisticated—and more effective.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Allen was banned from Hinge for impersonating herself.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
The Board of Supervisors also voted Tuesday on a separate proposal to explore options for cracking down on the sale of counterfeit law enforcement gear, like clothing or badges, intended for the purpose of impersonating agents.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025
Justin Simmons, 30, is charged with impersonating a peace officer and kidnapping.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025
Kenan pops up to confront her for impersonating a police officer at her concerts.
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Following the second kidnapping, Berchtold faced several criminal charges, including first-degree kidnapping and impersonating a central intelligence agent.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Heimpold was personally charged with impersonating a police officer for allegedly robbing multiple people in 2021.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impersonating
Verb
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These contrivances became so well known that, in 2009, the All-American Rejects guitarist Nick Wheeler spent much of his appearance mocking them.—
Kim Hew-Low,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
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The music video is a single shot of Welch in the back of a car, singing along in a suit, sporting shades and a cigar, both mocking and inhabiting the position of male dominance.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Nobody will hold Gjoshe to his hopeful timescale of playing again within a month.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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What's the most difficult part of playing a character like Peter?—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said hackers accessed the system by imitating a legitimate user account.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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Life isn’t quite imitating art for Kim Kardashian.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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His political heirs have also tried to redeem his image in the last decade, portraying him instead as a strong leader who brought stability to the country.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Angels counsel has attempted to discredit these former employees, portraying them as bitter because of their dismissals from the club.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As Obama, 61, explains in her new book, co-written with longtime stylist Meredith Koop, that smart hire led to some of the most iconic looks in the White House despite her reluctance to talk about fashion while performing her duties as First Lady.—
Kaity Velez,
Parents,
10 Nov. 2025
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More British blues bands followed, performing and recording songs by Delta blues artists.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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During takeoff and subsonic flight, for example, an ACE can open extra bypass ducts, effectively acting like a turbofan, quieter and efficient.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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Outside of acting, Swit was a painter and a vocal animal rights activist.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In a truly enormous space, over 100,000 square feet, that was once a Lord & Taylor department store, you are greeted with giant murals depicting Netflix shows on all sides.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
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Fantasy River is primarily blue, depicting a river and its banks filled with foliage as petals appear to fall from the sky.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The elections were largely in areas that have recently favored Democrats, so there are limits to interpreting what the results could mean for next year’s broader midterm races.—
Josh Boak,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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Legendary investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sold over $6 billion in stock in the third quarter of the year, in a move that some investors are interpreting as a warning to global markets.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impersonating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impersonating. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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