impostors
Wolves in disguise
Impostors is the plural of impostor—people who deceive others by assuming false identities or pretending to be someone they're not.
The word carries connotations of deliberate fraud: The impostors posed as government officials to gain access.
Also spelled impostors or imposters, with no difference in meaning.
Deceptive acts or impostors
- pretendersThose falsely claiming something
- charlatansPretenders to special knowledge
- fakesFraudulent imitations
- phoniesInsincere pretenders
deceivers · con artists · swindlers · masqueraders · hoaxers · tricksters · mountebanks · quacks
Those assuming others' identities
- doppelgangersGhostly identical strangers
- doublesPairs or stand-ins
- lookalikesNear-identical in appearance
- ringersBell operators or fakes
stand-ins · mimics · copycats · identity theft · assumed identity · aliases · disguise · infiltrators
Social deduction game
- crewmatesFellow members aboard
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- emergency meetingUrgent unscheduled group convening
- susSlang for questionable
ejection · venting · tasks · betrayal · accusation · voting · elimination · traitor
Uncertainty about oneself
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- overachieversThose who exceed expectations
perfectionism · underserving · accomplishments · validation · belonging · competence · phoniness · achievement
Adaptive resemblance to another
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- Batesian mimicryHarmless copying harmful appearance
- milk snakeNonvenomous banded reptile
- coral snakeVenomous striped serpent
hoverflies · parasites · cuckoos · cowbirds · nest parasitism
frauds
Deceptive acts or impostors
- pretendersThose falsely claiming something
- charlatansPretenders to special knowledge
- fakesFraudulent imitations
phonies · deceivers · con artists · swindlers · masqueraders · hoaxers · tricksters · mountebanks · quacks · shams
impersonators
Those assuming others' identities
- doppelgangersGhostly identical strangers
- doublesPairs or stand-ins
- lookalikesNear-identical in appearance
ringers · stand-ins · mimics · copycats · identity theft · assumed identity · aliases · disguise · infiltrators · moles
Among Us
Social deduction game
- crewmatesFellow members aboard
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- emergency meetingUrgent unscheduled group convening
sus · ejection · venting · tasks · betrayal · accusation · voting · elimination · traitor · spy
self-doubt
Uncertainty about oneself
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
overachievers · perfectionism · underserving · accomplishments · validation · belonging · competence · phoniness · achievement · comparison
mimicry
Adaptive resemblance to another
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
- Batesian mimicryHarmless copying harmful appearance
- milk snakeNonvenomous banded reptile
coral snake · hoverflies · parasites · cuckoos · cowbirds · nest parasitism
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- unwelcome peopleintruders, trespassers, invaders, uninvited guests, gatecrashers
- MoliereTartuffe, Don Juan, Psyche
- throne seekersusurpers, heirs, successors, pretenders, claimants
- Unknown Peoplestrangers, unknowns, John Doe, Jane Doe, nobodies
impostorsgenuine article
Authentic original item
real McCoy · the real thing · originals · authentic · genuine
impostorstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
straight shooters · transparent · sincere · forthright · candid
impostorsrightful owners
authorized personnel · legitimate heirs · rightful heirs · accredited
- impostor syndromeFeeling undeserving of success