Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions Lyrics History Colors (New!)

Literary notes about impostor (AI summary)

In literature, "impostor" serves as a versatile label for characters whose legitimacy or moral standing is in doubt. It is used to denounce those who wear masks of honor while acting with deceit, as when a character is condemned as an "unprincipled impostor" ([1]), or when an impostor is expelled to restore order, as seen in Homer’s narrative ([2]). Authors also employ the term to challenge identity and credibility, whether by exposing a political manipulator ([3]) or hinting at the internal struggle of self-recognition and dishonesty ([4], [5]). The word frequently underscores themes of fraud, artifice, and the blurred lines between truth and pretense throughout diverse literary traditions.
  1. In their eyes, it appears, I hold the position of an unprincipled impostor.
    — from Villette by Charlotte Brontë
  2. Besides the satisfaction of driving the impostor Thestorides from the island, Homer enjoyed considerable success as a teacher.
    — from The Odyssey by Homer
  3. “You are a political impostor and intriguer.
    — from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  4. But I was an impostor, of course, all along the line.
    — from The Man Who Couldn't Sleep by Arthur Stringer
  5. I am not a hero to you now, as I tried to seem before, but simply a nasty person, an impostor.
    — from Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, Scrabble


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Compound Your Joy