mock 1 of 3

verb

ˈmäk How to pronounce mock (audio)
Definition of mocknext
1
as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of team members good-naturedly mocked the coach's familiar bellow

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2
as in to ridicule
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter the fashion gurus loved to mock the famous couple for their unsophisticated clothes

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3
as in to disobey
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of a person willing to mock the religious prohibition against working on the Sabbath

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mock

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in faux
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials mock turtle soup

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2
as in fake
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality since I had inadvertently learned what I was getting, I opened the present with mock surprise

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mock

3 of 3

noun

1
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of they made a mock of the new recruit in front of the whole unit

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2
as in copy
something that is made to look exactly like something else obviously, the "priceless" Grecian urn that is destroyed in the movie was a mock

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mock distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mock are ape, copy, imitate, and mimic. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

When is ape a more appropriate choice than mock?

The synonyms ape and mock are sometimes interchangeable, but ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When would copy be a good substitute for mock?

While the synonyms copy and mock are close in meaning, copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to mock?

Although the words imitate and mock have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When is it sensible to use mimic instead of mock?

While in some cases nearly identical to mock, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

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 mock
Verb
Joe Rogan, who also supported Trump, has mocked the administration’s response. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 July 2025 However, the incident was quickly mocked on social media after it was revealed that the binders contained no new information. —Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
Adjective
Lords and ladies, mock battles and mystery, and feasting and axe-throwing are among the sensory treats that should bring out your inner Lancelot or Guinevere at the Mariposa Chivalry & Fantasy Festival. —AFAR Media, 11 July 2025 In a recent mock draft, Baseball America speculated the Sox would select Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold if the run on prep shortstops left him on the board. —Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Noun
Most of the latest mock drafts have McNeeley going anywhere from pick No. 15 to No. 19. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025 Perfect for Any Occasion This frozen mock margarita isn’t just for Cinco de Mayo. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
  1. parody
  2. ridicule
  3. disobey
  4. faux
  5. fake
  6. joke
  7. copy
  8. imitate
Verb
  • The Muppet Show was parodying a format that doesn’t exist anymore.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 June 2025
  • Reno 911! is a mockumentary comedy series that parodies law enforcement and premiered on Comedy Central in 2003.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Definition of parody
Verb
  • From the earliest days of Greek drama Herakles is ridiculed for his brutish way of eating his food, his preference for a good meal versus a good woman and, in Aristophanes’s The Bird, even his reluctance to leave a barbecue in order to help save his own father.
    — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • That audio clip has been shared some 60,000 times on TikTok, often by Venezuelans ridiculing the notion that everybody from their country is a gangster.
    — ProPublica, ProPublica, 23 July 2025
Definition of ridicule
Verb
  • Boasberg would later determine there was probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying his order to immediately halt deportations, but the proceedings were later blocked by an appeals court.
    — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 10 July 2025
  • The story references a recurring problem of drivers disobeying stop signs.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
Definition of disobey
Adjective
  • Morrow wore all Coach: a faux fur cheetah coat with mom-style denim jeans and a black leather bustier top.
    — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 July 2025
  • With six colors to choose from, this luxe faux leather passport holder may just become your new favorite travel accessory.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • How tariff news fuels some scams The Better Business Bureau warned earlier this summer that some scammers are using fake excuses involving delays caused by tariffs to cover up fraudulent online orders.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 24 July 2025
  • Spreading Malware Through Fake GitHub Repositories As seen in a recent case, threat actors use AI to create fake GitHub repositories, misleading developers into downloading malware.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of fake
Noun
  • Chinese officials in the eastern province of Zhejiang have put stand-up comics on notice to avoid jokes that could fuel resentment between the sexes.
    — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
  • According to the site, there were allegedly posts that included fat-shaming and rape jokes, among other topics via the Q&A platform Curious Cat.
    — Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of joke
Noun
  • To date, Kepler’s books have sold over 18 million copies worldwide.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 July 2025
  • My mother gave me a copy of The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Matsuo Basho.
    — Rebecca Chace July 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Definition of copy
Verb
  • Perhaps the Lake Bluff streakers heard of those at CLC and wanted to imitate them.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
  • The park’s hub-and-spoke design has been copied by parks around the world, but the caliber of Disneyland’s craftsmanship wasn’t easily imitated.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Definition of imitate

Browse Nearby Words

moccasins
mock
mocked
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Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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