MOCK Synonyms: 355 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

mock 1 of 3

verb

ˈmäk

Definition of mock

as in to parody

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of team members good-naturedly mocked the coach's familiar bellow

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as in to ridicule

to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter the fashion gurus loved to mock the famous couple for their unsophisticated clothes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disobey

to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of a person willing to mock the religious prohibition against working on the Sabbath

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mock

2 of 3

adjective

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials mock turtle soup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fake

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality since I had inadvertently learned what I was getting, I opened the present with mock surprise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mock

3 of 3

noun

as in joke

a person or thing that is made fun of they made a mock of the new recruit in front of the whole unit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in copy

something that is made to look exactly like something else obviously, the "priceless" Grecian urn that is destroyed in the movie was a mock

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The viral video of Gibson appearing to mock the Fan Expo ASL interpreter sparked backlash against the actor as well as FanExpo for platforming the controversial star. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Mel Gibson apologized Monday after video surfaced showing the actor mocking a sign language interpreter. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The mock draft assumes a scenario where the Dolphins are bad enough with Willis behind center in 2026, but still either pleased with his play or at least uncertain about him after one season. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Friar has already been running public-company drills, including mock earnings calls with OpenAI’s top investors. — Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Noun

That said, 18 of the 32 players in last year’s early mock were drafted in the first three rounds last week, including 12 in the first round. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 So instead, Kimmel presented his own schtick, appearing on a mock set at the Washington Hilton with clips of the president and others in the crowd, some looking none too happy. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mock

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock

Verb

The White House announced Arcade on social media with a series of animations parodying Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo loading screens.

— Lou Kesten, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Jules Dassin’s Rififi (1955) and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956) further refined the formula, while a number of decidedly sillier capers in the ’60s both parodied and advanced the genre, helping set the stage for the modern Ocean’s movies.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of parody

Verb

Democrats found plenty to ridicule about Dallas 2026, from the strategic absence of most swing-seat GOP candidates to the empty tier of seats that the president pretended not to see.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Other would-be demonyms, such as Unisian, United Statesian and United Statian, were similarly ridiculed.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of ridicule

Verb

Jeanie Buss also wants proof that Joey and Janie Buss disobeyed the 2017 court order, along with an order requiring them to show cause of why they should not be held in contempt of court.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026
The violations are disobeying orders and conduct unbecoming an officer.

— Charlie D'Agata, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disobey

Adjective

Throughout, the reader is bludgeoned with reminders of the war’s significance, and in the service of this aim Harding also offers a curious mixture of political awareness and faux naïveté.

— Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
Think raised geometric shapes, faux brick panels, wood-look slats or stone wall panels.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of faux

Adjective

Once roles are introduced to the game, the players make a comedy meal out of loudly fake narrating what Sam is doing while they’re blindfolded.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Those who speak a password, released via social media, receive a fake business card, which does mean many a guest is standing there shouting a password at the actor.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of fake

Verb

And besides, there’s a theory that, with the meow, the cats were evolving to imitate us.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
To make a famous ivory-navy-and-red bouclé suit worn by Coco herself, for example, the team used combs from Walmart to crosshatch the paint’s surface and added dollops of paint to imitate bouclé’s popcorn texture.

— Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of imitate

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moccasins

mock

mocked

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mock

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noun

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