Definitions

impersonate

[im-pur-suh-neyt, im-pur-suh-nit] / ɪmˈpɜr səˌneɪt, ɪmˈpɜr sə nɪt /

VERB

pretend to be another

Synonyms

STRONGEST

act like imitate masquerade as mimic portray pose as

STRONG

act ape ditto do enact fake mirror perform personate play playact represent

WEAK

act a part act out assume character do an impression of double as dress as make like pass oneself off as play a role put on an act take the part of

Antonyms

STRONG

direct fail halt idle prevent stop

WEAK

be original differ oppose reverse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For example, they can be trained to impersonate someone.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Detectives believe someone used the elder Hou’s cellphone to impersonate him for more than a month.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

This season, Fey dropped by to impersonate freshly ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

Two performers who impersonate famous musicians form a Neil Diamond tribute band and fall in love, but a devastating accident threatens their relationship and dreams.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

What had ever made me imagine that I could impersonate someone else, that I could be anything other than Widge, the orphan, the unwilling prentice of some unsympathetic master in some unbearable trade?

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Vocabulary lists containing impersonate

The Secret Life of Bees

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Rebound

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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 5–February 11, 2022

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