Imposturous

Imposturous describes behavior or things that resemble those of an imposter; especially involving deception or fabrication for the purpose of gaining something. It denotes a false pretense, a deceptive imitation, or the appearance of something that is not genuine. It can apply to a person, an action, a work of art, or any entity where the authenticity or integrity is questionable. This word strongly suggests an intent to mislead or deceive, highlighting the artificial nature of the subject and its potential for trickery. Often, there is a perceived attempt to gain trust or advantage through the deception.

Imposturous meaning with examples

• The critic dismissed the painting as imposturous, claiming the artist had merely copied the style of a famous master without any original vision. The lack of detail and crude brushstrokes showed an absence of the artist's own experience and skill. His intent to mislead and falsely give impression of authenticity, meant the painting did not deserve display.
• Her seemingly heartfelt apology proved to be imposturous, as her actions clearly contradicted her words, and her motive was not to ease suffering, but to manipulate. The false display of emotion revealed that she held no true remorse. Those around her recognized that her goal was to benefit from the forgiveness she was trying to simulate.
• The documentary was criticized for its imposturous use of historical footage, which was selectively edited to promote a biased narrative. By taking events out of context, the filmmaker aimed to mislead viewers and distort the truth of the time period shown. The goal was to cause viewers to take sides, based on the filmmaker's agenda.
• The business owner's imposturous claims about the product's effectiveness were revealed in the customer's reviews; the product did not meet the hype promised, or the advertised standards. The goal of gaining a customer, then disappointing that person, shows the unethical nature of the imposturous tactics used to garner sales.