as in mocking
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for personating
Verb
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Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge set the wind-up-merchant ball rolling in the 60th minute, celebrating the evening’s only goal by mocking Atletico’s mascot with a cockerel celebration.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026 -
And Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, who wasn’t even a first round pick in several mock drafts in January, is now routinely being projected for the top 12, with longtime analyst Dane Brugler mocking him 11th to Miami in his draft this week for the Athletic.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the set of Saturday Night Live ahead of the pop star’s upcoming hosting and performing stint, the comedian got a little too comfortable impersonating that week’s guest in a promo video posted Wednesday (March 11).—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
11 Mar. 2026
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Scammers impersonating the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles are trying to trick and threaten residents into paying fraudulent fees, agency officials said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fellow City Section member Sylmar (24-12) is playing San Marin (21-13) for the Division V title at noon.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Prior to the start of the current conflict, the IRGC was one of the most powerful organizations in the country, playing a dominant role in both internal domestic security and regional power projection.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock uses this science by imitating the sun’s gradual rise and, when used over time, can even ease your circadian rhythm into a pattern.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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In critiquing Trump on social media, Newsom has taken to imitating the president’s tone, trolling Trump in his all-caps style.—
Meg Kinnard,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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How did the creative team approach portraying the internet from an aesthetic point of view?—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
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Starring Béjo, produced by Wild Bunch TV and Palermo Production, on the biggest plays at the Upfront, moving from Belle Epoque Paris to New York and early Hollywood, portraying real-life fiction cinema visionary Alice Guy, erased from history.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether singing, acting, or creating a character, Julian demonstrated a deep understanding of storytelling and stagecraft.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
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Elsewhere, international movies like Norway’s Sentimental Value and Brazil’s The Secret Agent have had good showings, ending up in both the Best Picture and acting races as well.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
15 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Personating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/personating. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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