1
as in pretence
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2
as in deception
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of imposture
The entire texture of that life, its willed imposture.
—
Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
The widened circle of winking insiders was no longer so exotic and alluring, the imposture of Bourbaki’s mathematics no longer so exciting.
—Michael Barany, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2021
Body Double Long before the imposture of Anna Delvey, the Tichborne Claimaint swept a nation’s imagination.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Because such people are both brand-conscious and unable to detect the real thing, Miss Manners would be inclined to let the imposture pass.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023
This imposture cows the enemy, but Hector slays Patroclus anyway, sealing everyone’s fate.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
The print revolution’s past and future, valuing an empire’s impact, a saga of inheritance and imposture from Zadie Smith, and more.
—Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2023
Buy Now: Desertion on Bookshop | Amazon The Fraud, Zadie Smith (Sept. 5)
Zadie Smith’s sixth novel—and first historical one—is inspired by the Tichborne Trial, a controversial case of imposture that divided Victorian England.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 23 Aug. 2023
The narrator is an antihero with a genius for imposture.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022
Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
The widened circle of winking insiders was no longer so exotic and alluring, the imposture of Bourbaki’s mathematics no longer so exciting.
—Michael Barany, JSTOR Daily, 24 Mar. 2021
Body Double Long before the imposture of Anna Delvey, the Tichborne Claimaint swept a nation’s imagination.
—JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024
Because such people are both brand-conscious and unable to detect the real thing, Miss Manners would be inclined to let the imposture pass.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023
This imposture cows the enemy, but Hector slays Patroclus anyway, sealing everyone’s fate.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
The print revolution’s past and future, valuing an empire’s impact, a saga of inheritance and imposture from Zadie Smith, and more.
—Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2023
Buy Now: Desertion on Bookshop | Amazon The Fraud, Zadie Smith (Sept. 5)
Zadie Smith’s sixth novel—and first historical one—is inspired by the Tichborne Trial, a controversial case of imposture that divided Victorian England.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 23 Aug. 2023
The narrator is an antihero with a genius for imposture.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imposture
Noun
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This capability to detect deception should be a warning to everyone who relies on AI for critical thinking tasks.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Not only do language barriers complicate your talking with her parents, but the deception has already begun — this girl has been regularly visiting your home under false pretenses.—
Kwame Anthony Appiah,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The interaction between Briony and Jamie starts off amiably, with Jamie needling Briony for her posh affectations.—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Slumming with her sister in San Francisco after her life with her Madoff-like ex in New York implodes, Jasmine Francis isn't quite willing to let go of the affectations that come with living in high society.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Building artificial skin with room to grow The researchers initially sought to create a skin imitation that could accurately mimic the three layers in human skin: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
3 Apr. 2025
-
By contrast, Doom: The Dark Ages flings the player back into the dark ages to witness a war between two factions that look like a low-rent knock-off imitation of series like Warhammer — grotesqueries and all.—
Kazuma Hashimoto,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That is how CrossFit die-hards who dabble in Qanon quackery and blame wildfires on space lasers end up as the face of the House GOP.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
-
But the thought of a person who spreads the kind of dishonesty, quackery and junk science that Kennedy habitually does — especially about our precious kiddos — is nothing short of stomach churning.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The parallels between real life and fiction were haunting.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
-
To receive The New Yorker’s prize-winning journalism, photography, and short films, along with podcasts, cartoons, fiction, and more, sign up for our daily newsletter.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
No, his duplicity and shilling were on full display before, during and after his first term.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The timing makes his duplicity clear: Target sold Pride merchandise peacefully and in large part profitably for a decade.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Trump Administration has significantly weakened America's national security infrastructure under the false pretense of government efficiency, by reducing staffing at the Departments of Defense and State, FBI, CIA, USAID, and others despite increasing global threats.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
TIME,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The Trump administration’s harrowing detention of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil — and the broader repression of student activism on campuses across the country — is being sold to the public under the false pretense of ensuring Jewish safety.—
Adam Jaffe,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The wolf has a big representation for Shakira’s identity.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
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By all accounts Joanna James is a visionary and tireless advocate for female representation at the highest levels in the competitive hospitality and restaurant industries.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imposture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imposture. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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