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mock

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adjective

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mock

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mock distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mock are ape, copy, imitate, and mimic. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

When is ape a more appropriate choice than mock?

The synonyms ape and mock are sometimes interchangeable, but ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When would copy be a good substitute for mock?

While the synonyms copy and mock are close in meaning, copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to mock?

Although the words imitate and mock have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When is it sensible to use mimic instead of mock?

While in some cases nearly identical to mock, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

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 mock
Verb
Back in Colombia in the 1990s, then-mayor Antanas Mockus replaced 1,800 traffic cops with just 20 mimes, who used silent performance to mock reckless drivers and praise good behavior. Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 7 May 2025 During the White House’s annual Easter Egg Roll last week, for instance, Trump mocked Biden for being redirected byanaide dressed in a bunny costume. Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Congratulations to all the top scorers who competed against 1,527 mock drafts! Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2025 Lucky for us, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz dives right into that dicey proposition with his very, very early look at the players who could be prominent figures in mock drafts to come. Jim Reineking, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
Overall, the mock spreads out the positions the team addresses well, with 10 different positions addressed in throughout the seven rounds. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025 After being gifted with a wide receiver in Xavier Worthy after a trade up in last year's NFL draft, in this mock, the team somehow lands Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
Verb
  • One week after Madison and Wallen's episode, SNL parodied his exit in two sketches.
    Jack Irvin, People.com, 12 May 2025
  • In this piece Nitwit, voiced by Matt Berry, narrates their wild journey, parodying My Name is Earl, with hilarious moments from Jennifer Coolidge.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • This was baffling to many observers, including this one, and was widely ridiculed, even receiving a friendly jab from rival, Peacock.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • The former lawmaker from Hawaii used her perch at Fox to defend Trump from negative headlines and to ridicule her former party over its vision for the country.
    Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Resto was arrested on charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, engaging police in a pursuit, failure to maintain proper lane on a limited access highway and interfering with an officer/resisting.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The YouGov/The Economist survey also shows that nearly half of Americans think that the Trump administration is disobeying court orders when deporting immigrants.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Our feeds are flooded with faux news and half-truths, designed to prop up confirmation biases and advance political agendas.
    Slaine, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
  • This depends on the material, but faux leather is usually less susceptible to damage from steam.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • YouTube has further cracked down on fake movie trailer channels.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 May 2025
  • This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • Nikki Glaser applauds Joan’s candor about aging and plastic surgery, and Aubrey Plaza retires Joan’s not-so-politically-correct jokes.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The gimmick of the game show is interesting, though the prize money is a joke.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • Inside, authorities allegedly found more debit cards with numerous names on them, copies of multiple driver’s licenses, bank documents and more than a dozen cell phones, state police wrote.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
  • The Oops album, released 25 years ago this May, sold a staggering 1.3 million copies its first week, becoming the fastest-selling female album of all time (a title held until Adele dropped her 25 record over 15 years later).
    Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Christians are to imitate Christ, the true Good Samaritan, called to view all as nothing less than kin in sin and in the promise of salvation.
    Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
  • Volunteers rappelled from the top of a building as sirens went off and firecrackers erupted — apparently to imitate shelling in one drill in the Indian port city of Mumbai.
    Diaa Hadid, NPR, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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