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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
The president has spent much of the shutdown mocking Democrats, posting videos of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a Mexican sombrero. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025 Netflix’s true-crime documentaries have a recognizable sheen to them—the streamer even released a comedy series mocking its take on the genre. Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Each set comes with cropped joggers and a mock-neck sweatshirt with pretty lantern sleeves. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2025 Earlier this year, Extinction Rebellion staged a mock funeral in Cambridge, England. Sophie Yeo, The Dial, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
Stewart also satirically brought up how clearly just the left mocks tragedy — and then showed clips including one of Donald Trump Jr. making fun of Paul Pelosi being bludgeoned by a hammer, as well as Fox News’ Paul Hegseth and Rachel Campos-Duffy doing the same. Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025 The hilarious results propel the new mock doc, which find Tufnel running a cheese shop, St. Hubbins piddling around his home studio and Smalls staffing a glue museum. Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
Verb
  • The brand announced the drop on Instagram with a campaign video parodying 1970s game shows.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In its Saturday cold open, the sketch show parodied the final New York City mayoral debate, with Miles Teller as Andrew Cuomo, Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani and Shane Gillis as Curtis Sliwa.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Mamdani has many bold ideas to address this—some of which have been ridiculed—and not all will be achieved.
    Sally Susman, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer – a petty offense punishable by a fine – Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.
    Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Harvick said the agency gave lawful orders for the crowd to move back, which were disobeyed.
    Daniella Silva, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Heathyoga Pleated Dress Pants Heathyoga cozy-fied the idea of a classic dress pant with an elastic waistband, faux back pockets, real side pockets, a faux fly, and belt loops.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The bootie slippers are covered in a striking microwool and lined with pillowy faux fur that’s super warming.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Punter Sean West — whose long 24-yard heave on a fake punt outgained every quarterback on the roster.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Green expertly applies fake eyelashes, thick foundation and a dessert brown eye look, while Messina goes to work piling tight curls atop my head.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The comedy is a tonal mess, veering between underdeveloped jokes and unearned sentiment.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
  • How did Joy nearly die in the wilderness of Colorado, a place that, in a joke the film keeps repeating, is almost all white people?
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Sean Soendker Nicholson, a political consultant working with the referendum campaign, called People Not Politicians, provided The Star with a copy of the contract.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025
  • This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Art imitating life a little bit.
    Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • That work led to the Multisensory Correlation Detector (MCD), which could imitate human responses to simple audiovisual patterns like flashes and clicks.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

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