MOCK Synonyms: 355 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

mock 1 of 3

verb

ˈmäk

Definition of mock

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mock

2 of 3

adjective

as in faux

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mock

3 of 3

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

And finally, another one of Wang’s creations mocks Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine’s infamously cringe sexts by showing the pop star losing his mind to a picture of Jolly’s derriere in an Instagram DM. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026 Afroman went on to publish songs and music videos taunting the deputies, including one called Lemon Pound Cake that mocked the portly deputy for his apparent interest in the cake. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The Close Encounters director looked back on a mock trial Sheindlin so graciously presided over in honor of his superfan mother’s 90th birthday. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026 Coaches later guide parents through the hiring process with mock interviews and resume-building. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Noun

That said, 18 of the 32 players in last year’s early mock were drafted in the first three rounds last week, including 12 in the first round. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 So instead, Kimmel presented his own schtick, appearing on a mock set at the Washington Hilton with clips of the president and others in the crowd, some looking none too happy. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mock

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock

Verb

The latter went from working on Star Trek properties (Next Gen, Voyager, Enterprise) to parodying them with MacFarlane on The Orville.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
The White House announced Arcade on social media with a series of animations parodying Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo loading screens.

— Lou Kesten, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of parody

Verb

That reluctance to expose his central characters and the institution to ridicule is odd given the novel’s account of Ayad’s education as a playwright.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
At the sectarian level, Baptists ridiculed Quakers, Presbyterians oppressed Anabaptists.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of ridicule

Verb

The creditors’ lawsuit describes Kenny as a bullying presence who routinely threatened to fire anyone who disobeyed his orders.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Cops had issued summonses to the driver twice before, once in 2024 for failing to yield to a pedestrian and in 2018 for disobeying a traffic device, officials said.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of disobey

Adjective

Floral garlands, vases, faux windows, buckets, and even a trompe-l’oeil lion skin evoke an atmosphere quite far removed from the typical imagery found in houses in this part of Italy.

— Elena Dallorso, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
This + a faux-fur coat + beloved leather pants + a 44-percent-off deal = your most head-turning (and wallet-sparing) ensemble to date.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of faux

Adjective

Carmella is also still mad at Vicki for saying that Danny is raising her kids, and Heather is angry after learning that Vicki called her fake in Palm Springs.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
All are alleged to have sent investors fake account statements and communications claiming their investments were either safe and sound or growing rapidly.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fake

Noun

That’s one of the wobbliest of the timeline-hopping jokes in the show.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Painfully aware of this, Shawn waited for one of the drunk old men to comment, heckle, make one of those incomprehensible jokes that drew rude laughter from adults.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of joke

Noun

These genomes should reflect the full sequence of both chromosome copies and the diversity of the global population, rather than relying on one person or one ancestral group as a universal standard.

— Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
When the Spider swings past a silverish-gray newsstand filled with copies of the Daily Bugle, the frame becomes black-and-white, even in the color version.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of copy

Verb

OpenAI denied intentionally imitating Johansson’s voice and later withdrew the feature.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Then-Princess Elizabeth struggled to pronounce her own name as a toddler, and her grandfather, King George V, reportedly imitated her pronunciation.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of imitate

Browse Nearby Words

moccasins

mock

mocked

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mock

verb

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes