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Impersonate vs Disguise - What's the difference?

impersonate | disguise |

In transitive terms the difference between impersonate and disguise

is that impersonate is to pretend to be (a different person), to assume the identity of while disguise is to avoid giving away or revealing (something secret); to hide by a false appearance.

As a noun disguise is

attire (e.g. clothing, makeup) used to hide one's identity or assume another.

impersonate

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To pretend to be (a different person), to assume the identity of.
  • The conman managed to impersonate several executives.
  • (obsolete) To manifest in corporeal form; to personify.
  • Synonyms

    * (assume identity of) personate * (manifest in corporeal form) embody

    Derived terms

    * impersonation * impersonator

    disguise

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Attire (e.g. clothing, makeup) used to hide one's identity or assume another.
  • ''That cape and mask complete his disguise .
  • (figuratively) The appearance of something on the outside which masks what's beneath.
  • The act of disguising, notably as a ploy
  • ''Any disguise may expose soldiers to be deemed enemy spies.

    Synonyms

    * camouflage * guise * mask * pretense

    Verb

  • To change the appearance of (a person or thing) so as to hide, or to assume an identity.
  • Spies often disguise themselves.
  • * Macaulay
  • Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a wagoner.
  • To avoid giving away or revealing (something secret); to hide by a false appearance.
  • He disguised his true intentions.
  • (archaic) To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.
  • * Spectator
  • I have just left the right worshipful, and his myrmidons, about a sneaker or five gallons; the whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the ship.

    Synonyms

    * cloak * mask * hide

    Derived terms

    * disguisedly * disguisement * disguiser