mock

1 of 4

verb

ˈmäk How to pronounce mock (audio)
ˈmȯk
mocked; mocking; mocks

transitive verb

1
: to treat with contempt or ridicule : deride
he has been mocked as a mama's boyC. P. Pierce
2
: to disappoint the hopes of
for any government to mock men's hopes with mere words and promises and gesturesD. D. Eisenhower
3
: defy, challenge
the unstable, strange new world of subatomic particles that mock all attempts at understandingPhilip Howard
4
a
: to imitate (someone or something) closely : mimic
a mockingbird was mocking a cardinalNelson Hayes
b
: to mimic in sport or derision
followed the old man along the street mocking his gait

intransitive verb

: jeer, scoff
she … mocked at his piety as affectationFerdinand Schevill
mocker noun
mockingly adverb

mock

2 of 4

noun

1
: an act of ridicule or derision : jeer
2
: one that is an object of derision or scorn
3
4
a
: an act of imitation
b
: something made as an imitation

mock

3 of 4

adjective

: of, relating to, or having the character of an imitation : simulated, feigned
the mock solemnity of the parody

mock

4 of 4

adverb

: in an insincere or counterfeit manner
usually used in combination
mock-serious
Choose the Right Synonym for mock

ridicule, deride, mock, taunt mean to make an object of laughter of.

ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

the other kids mocked the way he laughed

taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

copy, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing.

copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

ape may suggest presumptuous, unoriginal, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Examples of mock in a Sentence

Verb The boys mocked him for showing fear. He mocks art only because he doesn't understand it. They continue to mock the idea of a new government. We are being mocked for our religious beliefs. You can mock me as much as you like, but I'm going to do it anyway. Noun they made a mock of the new recruit in front of the whole unit obviously, the “priceless” Grecian urn that is destroyed in the movie was a mock Adjective We stared at him in mock surprise. Every summer, our history club performs mock battles to relive our country's greatest war.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Jimmy Kimmel used his final show before the election to make an impassioned plea to get rid of Donald Trump, while others mocked the Republican candidate’s recent meltdown over a microphone during one his rallies. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024 Russia has sent two prototypes of its latest fighter jet in service, the stealth Su-57, to China for an airshow, where they were reportedly mocked for their poor workmanship and conditions. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
The media portrayed Taylor as a homewrecker who lured Fisher away from Debbie Reynolds, whose persona as America’s sweetheart Taylor mocks in her interview. Marisa Guthrie, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024 In the mock debates Harris is holding in Pittsburgh as rehearsal for Tuesday, the adviser playing Trump’s role is underlining the differences between the candidates by allegedly dressing as Trump, right down to the big blue suit and long tie. Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Our team spent four months building a minute-by-minute playbook, conducting two full-scale mock cutovers and stress-testing every critical system. Sidharth Ramsinghaney, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Experience mock classes led by prominent professors, explore diverse legal career paths, and receive personalized admissions guidance. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 3 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Sports Sam Farmer’s crystal ball: NFL mock draft 2.0 after big trade for top pick April 3, 2023 Stafford passed for only 10 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, as the Rams produced the worst performance by a defending Super Bowl champion in league history. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023 And though Tyler ditched the bellhop costume quickly, he was soon replaced by the anonymous character of a fisherman in a bright yellow raincoat who was responsible for holding up a backdrop as Tyler set sail -- and, of course, mock-mopping up the water on the dock once Tyler returned to land. Billboard, 31 July 2021 See all Example Sentences for mock 

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, from moker

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mock was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mock

Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mock. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mock

1 of 3 verb
ˈmäk How to pronounce mock (audio)
ˈmȯk
1
: to treat with scorn : ridicule
mocked his ideas
2
: defy sense 2
don't mock the rules
3
: to make fun of by mimicking
mocker noun
mockingly adverb

mock

2 of 3 noun
1
: an act of mocking : jeer
2
: someone or something that is made fun of

mock

3 of 3 adjective
: not real : imitation

More from Merriam-Webster on mock

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