as in to play
to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior
likes to personate the man of the world, but he's still the small-town hick that he always was
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of personate
Till’s motifs swept though the ensemble, as horns, clarinets, bassoons, violin all had a chance to personate the character.
—
By Libby Hanssen, kansascity.com, 3 June 2017
By Libby Hanssen, kansascity.com, 3 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for personate
Verb
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Malakian explains the role Ozzfest played in elevating System of a Down’s profile.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
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Hamill plays a man only known as the Major, the military commander who oversees the Walk and gives the walkers their literal marching orders.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
26 July 2025
Verb
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Scammers impersonating Social Security rank No. 2 on the list; scammers impersonating the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as Medicare, rank No. 3.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
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Marshal Goodnight faces charges including impersonating a peace officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of a stun gun, possessing a baton and possessing a tear gas weapon, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Perhaps the Lake Bluff streakers heard of those at CLC and wanted to imitate them.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
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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
Verb
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He was previously mocked on social media during a loss to Austin Peay in November, when the Fox College Hoops broadcast showed Clark sitting in the stands.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 July 2025
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But their identities — and the speculative affair — became fodder for millions online, from memes mocking the encounter to serious debate over HR violations.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Verb
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AnnaSophia Robb portrayed Violet Beauregarde, the bubble-gum obsessed child who finds a Golden Ticket and is ultimately turned into a blueberry.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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Cooper Koch, who portrayed the younger brother Lyle Menendez and previously received a Golden Globe nomination for his breakthrough performance, was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Notable Music acts: Big Boi, The Beatbox Collective, The Black Keys.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
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Rinke, the least-Trumpy candidate in the 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary, has been acting like a nominee-in-waiting ever since.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Personate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/personate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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