imposter

Wolf in sheep's clothing

An imposter is someone who pretends to be another person, often to deceive others for personal gain.

The word also applies more broadly to anyone who falsely claims credentials, abilities, or status they don't possess: The journalist turned out to be an imposter with no press credentials.

Imposter syndrome describes the persistent feeling that one's success is undeserved despite evidence to the contrary.

The spelling impostor is equally acceptable.

fraud

charlatan

Faker claiming false expertise

swindlerPerson who deceives for money
conmanFraud who deceives for profit
fakerOne who pretends

phony · sham · pretender · hoaxer · cheat · trickster · scammer · grifter · mountebank · quack

counterfeit

fake

Not the real thing

forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
counterfeitFraudulent imitation
knockoffUnauthorized replica product

imitation · bogus · spurious · copycat · replica · fabrication · falsification · pseudo · ersatz · lookalike

masquerade

disguise

Identity-concealing alteration

maskFace-worn concealment
costumeClothing for portrayal
charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense

pretense · guise · incognito · camouflage · concealment · facade · front · cover · persona · alter ego

syndrome

self-doubt

Uncertainty about oneself

inadequacyState of being insufficient
anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
insecurityUncertainty about oneself

overachiever · perfectionism · attribution · undeserving · phoniness · high achiever · competence · workplace · academia · success

imposter

charlatan

fake

disguise

self-doubt

imposter

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

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