as in to play
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior likes to personate the man of the world, but he's still the small-town hick that he always was

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 personate Till’s motifs swept though the ensemble, as horns, clarinets, bassoons, violin all had a chance to personate the character. By Libby Hanssen, kansascity.com, 3 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for personate
Verb
  • Trump played a role of his own in applying pressure.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Pratt plays Detective Chris Raven, a man who programmed an artificial intelligence called Mercy, which Los Angeles courts are using to determine guilt.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As in Milwaukee, the callers will impersonate a sheriff deputy and indicate a legal matter needs to be resolved through payment.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Watch the full collection of Survivor 49 players hilariously imitating Probst making fun of them during a challenge in the video at the top of the article.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Often imitated but never duplicated, the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer continues to be a bestseller online, beloved by both salon owners and everyday users alike.
    Brittany Loggins, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The drama was followed by another housemate, George, being evicted after mocking gay housemate Sam.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 8 Oct. 2025
  • The new video is part of a pattern in which DHS has increasingly deployed memes to mock migrants and popular culture.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The video portrays Figure 03 as a cutting-edge robot butler, which can wirelessly recharge itself through its feet by standing on a platform.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Split the Sky is a powerful story for those who value seeing Black youth portrayed with complexity and strength.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Many students have acted boldly, and occasionally made dumb mistakes, because they were outraged by historical wrongs, incendiary speakers, cultural stereotypes, or other provocations.
    Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
  • As for acting and producing, Gomez has won Emmys for Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building and earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in 2024’s Emilia Pérez.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Personate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/personate. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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