variants
or imposter
as in pretender
one who makes false claims of identity or expertise
the man who claimed to be a prince turned out to be an impostor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impostor
However, sometimes there’s an impostor among us, and one celebrity who always falls victim to AI deepfakes is Katy Perry.
—
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 May 2025
Fortunately, plant enthusiasts quickly chimed in to identify the impostor.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Adelaide Tovar, a University of Michigan scientist who researches genes related to diabetes, used to feel like an impostor in a laboratory.
—Brett Kelman, Miami Herald, 1 May 2025
Mike Hawkins Adelaide Tovar, a University of Michigan scientist who researches genes related to diabetes, used to feel like an impostor in a laboratory.
—Brett Kelman, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impostor
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 May 2025
Fortunately, plant enthusiasts quickly chimed in to identify the impostor.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Adelaide Tovar, a University of Michigan scientist who researches genes related to diabetes, used to feel like an impostor in a laboratory.
—Brett Kelman, Miami Herald, 1 May 2025
Mike Hawkins Adelaide Tovar, a University of Michigan scientist who researches genes related to diabetes, used to feel like an impostor in a laboratory.
—Brett Kelman, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impostor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impostor
Noun
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What used to be a very niche field with only a small handful of offerings has become a cottage industry full of contenders and pretenders, and any number of startups offering a readymade conversion for your bike.—
Michael Venutolo-Mantovani,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
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With a guitarist by her side doing little else than striking the poses of bygone hair-metal pretenders, SZA sang from her knees and brought back ‘80s pop rock.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Caricatured by Honoré Daumier and his lesser followers always as a mountebank, a charlatan, a circus clown, Louis Napoleon could normalize the extent of his outrages by the seeming harmlessness of his absurdities.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
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Where to watch Saw: Amazon Prime Video (to rent) 03 of 10 Saw X (2023) John Kramer ventures to Mexico for an experimental cancer treatment administered by money-hungry charlatans in this slick but not particularly inventive revival sequel, which takes place between the events of Saw and Saw II.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
10 May 2025
Noun
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And not just shooting the shot, but using it to create space for my teammates or using a shot fake to create a different shot for myself or a drive to kick.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
28 June 2025
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But a closer inspection revealed some telltale signs that the document, first obtained by the Tribune through a public records request, is likely a fake.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Noun
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But Lee—a veteran actor with over three decades of success starring in numerous Korean blockbusters like Sandglass, New World and the Along with the Gods franchise—knew to trust his gut.—
Regina Kim,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Many replies suggested Henry Cavill, the Superman actor.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Caricatured by Honoré Daumier and his lesser followers always as a mountebank, a charlatan, a circus clown, Louis Napoleon could normalize the extent of his outrages by the seeming harmlessness of his absurdities.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
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With tariffs on pharmaceuticals, the mountebank of Mar-A-Lago wants to punish a small democracy of 5.3 million people that for the past 60 years has worked its way into the top table of drug research and production: Ireland.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Tell that to the kids who have been hospitalized and died from measles, following quack Dr. Bobby’s Rx to avoid the shots.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
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The Spare Room by Helen Garner This is a book about a woman, Helen, who decides to let her old friend, Nicola, who is dying of cancer, come and stay with her in Melbourne while Nicola sees a local quack doctor.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 May 2025
Noun
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The movie lacks a lot of Shepherd’s biting sarcasm and cynicism, because this book does pine for the good old days while also pointing out how adults then, and now, are a bunch of phonies.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
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For a Gen X-er raised on movies that skewered phonies and wannabes, the thought of being a poser was, in the end, far more offensive to his sensibilities than being potentially bland.—
Rachel Syme,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The government push comes despite a Senate probe in May that revealed the labor program was fraught with problems including the commercial exploitation of job seekers, fraud, and poor working conditions overseas.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
20 June 2025
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The truth is that almost all the fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system comes from the billing and payment processes and skyrocketing prices, not from people who rely on Medicaid for essential care.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impostor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impostor. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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