impersonate

verb

im-ˈpər-sə-ˌnāt How to pronounce impersonate (audio)
Definition of impersonatenext
1
as in to imitate
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior a school intruder was caught trying to impersonate a teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to portray
to present a portrayal or performance of interpreters at the living history museum impersonate figures who are known to have actually lived in the colonial town

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 impersonate This allows criminals to impersonate carriers, intercept deliveries, and disable GPS tracking. — Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Online, Safeer Mohammed Koorimannil, who was trafficked to a scam center in Myanmar, impersonated a 28-year-old Singaporean woman named Ella. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 The second is listed only as a school district employee in the affidavit, who Knowles allegedly impersonated during an exam at Florida Atlantic University in August 2024. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026 The Idaho Attorney General’s Office is warning that scammers are impersonating city planning officials in Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell, using public permit information to create realistic fake invoices. — Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance, Idaho Statesman, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for impersonate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impersonate
  1. imitate
  2. portray
  3. mock
  4. play
  5. personate
  6. perform
  7. depict
  8. interpret
Verb
  • Here was a government that had explicitly borrowed from Beijing’s developmental playbook and sincerely attempted to imitate it, but failed.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • These are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists that imitate a natural hormone in the gut.
    — Stephanie Stephens, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Definition of imitate
Verb
  • For all her talk of women as allies, Siebel Newsom portrays conservative women who criticize other women as dupes manipulated by MAGA leaders.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Rob, who died in December at age 78, portrayed George Washington in a segment inspired by the first president’s decision to step away after two terms in office.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of portray
Verb
  • The Belgian team’s official X account celebrated the team’s win with a pair of mocking posts.
    — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • More than 200 people were arrested in protest marches and anti-terror raids, including academics, lawyers, and journalists; a comedian who mocked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was held at the airport.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of mock
Verb
  • He was evaluated by the medical staff, hit in the cage and decided to play.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of play
Verb
  • 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
Definition of personate
Verb
  • The superstar performed at Inglewood’s Kia Forum on Monday, as well as last night, on her Lux Tour.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • Sources told Rolling Stone that Stevie Nicks, a longtime friend of Swift, will be present at the ceremony — and another said that the singer-songwriter would perform on the special day.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of perform
Verb
  • Barin is the hotel’s high-end teppanyaki restaurant, seating 10 people at the counter and up to 16 in booths lining a long mural hand-drawn on gold leaf depicting Osaka’s history.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • Zhenwu’s roots stretch back to ancient days as the god of the North, when he was often depicted as a turtle entwined with a snake.
    — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Definition of depict
Verb
  • The concerns now being raised by faculty should not be interpreted as proof that admissions policies have failed, and the causes of declining academic preparation extend well beyond admissions offices.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • For Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer, the race will be interpreted through the lens of their relative influence as Democratic Party power brokers.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
Definition of interpret

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impersonal
impersonate
impersonated
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Cite this Entry

“Impersonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impersonate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on impersonate

Nglish: Translation of impersonate for Spanish Speakers

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