Definition of personatenext
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
  • Win prizes playing interactive games, network with artists and entrepreneurs and enjoy signature drinks and bar snacks available for purchase.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Men leaders can pay attention to and be mindful of who in the workplace may be playing more of an emotional support role that falls outside their job description.
    Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Online, Safeer Mohammed Koorimannil, who was trafficked to a scam center in Myanmar, impersonated a 28-year-old Singaporean woman named Ella.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 June 2026
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
Verb
  • In the weeks leading up to the June 26 release of the film, men mocked 26-year-old Alcock’s appearance across social media.
    Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
  • Each sketch was packed with mocking details, such as long red ties, Big Macs and lots and lots of gold, to drive home her point.
    Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
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
Verb
  • Mozeliak argues the team doesn’t need to tank to win, but rather act more like a big market team.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Maintenance inhalers are either long-acting airway dilators or anti-inflammatory medications like steroids that patients should take daily.
    Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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