impersonate

Pretend being another

To impersonate is to pretend to be someone else, either for entertainment or deception.

Comedians impersonate celebrities; criminals impersonate police officers.

The word implies deliberate assumption of another's identity, manner, or appearance: He was arrested for impersonating a federal agent.

Impersonation as performance is imitation; as fraud, it's a crime.

pretense

disguise

Identity-concealing alteration

masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
facadeDeceptive outward appearance
guiseExternal manner shown

pose · feign · pretend · bluff · charade · fakery · poseur · affectation · front · act

performance

actor

One who portrays characters

roleplayAdopt another's perspective
characterNature, symbol, or role
portrayalDepiction of someone

impression · sketch · comedy · standup · celebrity · parody · caricature · satire · spoof · skit

mimic

imitate

Reproduce another's behavior

copyIdentical reproduction made
emulateCopy with aspiration
mirrorReflective viewing surface

ape · parrot · echo · simulate · mimicry · mock · replicate · mannerism · voice · gesture

fraud

identity theft

Stealing personal data criminally

phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
spoofingFraudulent imitation
scamDishonest money-making scheme

con · forgery · fake ID · catfish · swindle · grifter · fraudster · imposter · deceive · hoax

Categories

pretendingpretend, pretending, fake, feign, make-believe
communicateexpress, convey, communicate, tell, share
deceiversliar, liars, deceiver, fraud, fake
imitationcopy, copycat, imitation, mimicking, replica
teasingtease, teasing, rib, ribbing, josh
fraudscam, fraud, swindle, con, deceive

Opposites

authenticity of identity

impersonatebe authentic

Act without pretense

act naturally · unmask · come clean · be oneself · be yourself

relational stance

impersonateoppose

Act against something

differ · differentiate · repudiate · reverse · contradict

imitation vs. originality

impersonateoriginate

To come into existence

create · innovate · invent · pioneer · differ

Phrases

Elvis impersonatorsPerformers mimicking the King
female impersonatorMale performing as woman
celebrity impersonationMimicking a famous person
male impersonatorWoman portraying men onstage
online impersonation

Family

impersonal, impersonator, impersonation, impersonating, impersonated, impersonations, impersonally, impersonality, impersonators

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G