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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
Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office made a social media post mocking the latest announcement by the U.S. Department of Education that the state had violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes in women's sports. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025 Strong and battle-hardened with a white scar down his back, he’s grown up getting mocked for flubbing a kill shot to the heart. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
Adjective
Just ask anyone who saw Terry Crews, in full President Camacho regalia in 2023, riding a Hummer around town, holding a mock press conference for a fictional presidential campaign. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Here are some players the Kings are expected to pick in some of the latest mock drafts. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
Many mocks had the hulking lineman going off the board much sooner, so this was great value. Bryce Lazenby, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025 Here are some of the scenes unfolding as mock drills get underway: National Disaster Response Force personnel take part in a civil defense mock drill in Varanasi, India. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
Verb
  • Reno 911! is a mockumentary comedy series that parodies law enforcement and premiered on Comedy Central in 2003.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 July 2025
  • Fun factoid: Don Adams as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) talking on the shoe phone has been parodied by many comedians over the years.
    Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Videos of him saying that have been ridiculed by the anti-war right this week – one of them, a prediction that removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq would weaken Iran, was conclusively proven wrong.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 June 2025
  • But while others might see something to ridicule, Margarita sees something entirely different: a way to belong.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Summer classes and programs are still underway in South Florida and the county’s school zone cameras are still active, just waiting to mail you a ticket for disobeying the speed zone.
    Cordell Jones July 6, Miami Herald, 6 July 2025
  • Her word was law and anyone who disobeyed it was punished.
    Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Save on a new faux leather crossbody from Vera Bradley for an impressive 76 percent off, a pair of cork footbed sandals that resemble popular styles worn by Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 9 July 2025
  • Without it, as inequality worsens, the next populist may not be a faux champion of the people, but a genuine anti-capitalist insurgent.
    Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a massive global scam operation that uses real payment methods on fake checkout pages.
    Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
  • Additional increases in the quantity and quality of weapons sent to Ukraine would underpin that message and would have a better chance than anything else of persuading Putin to replace fake negotiations with the real thing.
    The Editors, National Review, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • And beyond the viral jokes littering Palmer’s comments are thousands of seemingly serious comments calling her video just an example of how leaning into feminine roles can be self care.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
  • The jokes about alligators attacking immigrants while in detention have been casually tossed around by President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative and far-right influencers.
    Raisa Habersham, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • His 1806 map does not have street names, but a copy kept with the Library of Congress shows numerical markings below all but one of the streets running perpendicular to the Ohio River.
    Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2025
  • American Heart Debuts at No. 1 Luminate reports that in its first seven days of availability in the country, American Heart sold 30,000 copies.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • And beyond device checks, smart verification systems can also monitor behavioral signals—like typing speed, location, or login habits—to spot anomalies that a cloned voice can’t imitate.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 10 July 2025
  • His celebration imitated him sitting down playing a video game – a tribute to his former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota who died in a car crash last week.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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