Imposter game words, by theme and age
A good imposter word is something everyone in the room knows, with lots of different things you could say about it. Here are our own word lists, from easy ones for kids to tricky ones for adults.
Playing on the TV? Our Imposter game deals a word to every phone for you, from the theme the host picks. Just one phone? Use our imposter word generator.
What makes a good imposter word?
- Everyone knows it. If one player hasn't heard of it, they'll look like the Imposter.
- It has lots of sides. "Pizza" works: cheese, delivery, slices, ovens, Friday night. "Paperclip" runs out fast.
- It's not too narrow. Avoid words with one obvious clue, or the Imposter guesses it on the first go.
- Match it to the group. Easy words for kids, harder words for adults who like a challenge.
Easy words for kids
Things every kid knows, with plenty to say about each.
dinosaur, birthday cake, rainbow, playground, ice cream, robot, pirate, school bus, teddy bear, balloon, pyjamas, snowman, treehouse, cupcake, superhero, castle, puppy, swimming pool, trampoline, dragon.
Animals
Good for all ages. Harder: pick animals that look alike.
kangaroo, penguin, koala, shark, elephant, octopus, giraffe, crocodile, owl, bee, dolphin, spider, tortoise, flamingo, wombat, camel, jellyfish, peacock, sloth, ibis.
Food and drink
Everyone has an opinion about food, which makes for good clues.
pizza, sushi, pancakes, meat pie, popcorn, lasagne, fairy bread, tacos, avocado, chocolate, barbecue, lamington, noodles, watermelon, milkshake, toast, curry, doughnut, mango, smoothie.
At the beach
Our favourite theme, straight from the Gold Coast.
surfboard, sunscreen, lifeguard, sandcastle, seagull, boogie board, beach umbrella, rock pool, jetty, thongs, wave, snorkel, fish and chips, beach towel, sunburn, red and yellow flags, shells, ice block, sand dune, pelican.
Around the house
Easy to picture, surprisingly hard to give a clue for.
fridge, toothbrush, couch, washing machine, bath, lamp, remote control, pillow, kettle, letterbox, mirror, vacuum cleaner, clothesline, toaster, alarm clock, stairs, oven, umbrella, bin, ceiling fan.
Sport and games
For sporty groups. Harder: pick sports that share gear.
cricket, netball, surfing, tennis, golf, swimming, skateboarding, chess, bowling, rugby, basketball, karate, fishing, horse riding, ice skating, darts, rowing, trampolining, marathon, soccer.
Jobs
Everyone knows what they do, and that's the trouble.
teacher, firefighter, chef, pilot, dentist, farmer, astronaut, plumber, vet, magician, mechanic, hairdresser, detective, postie, builder, nurse, baker, zookeeper, DJ, librarian.
Places
From around the corner to around the world.
airport, hospital, library, zoo, supermarket, campsite, cinema, theme park, museum, farm, desert, rainforest, volcano, island, space station, lighthouse, shopping centre, train station, hotel, outback.
Christmas
For a Christmas game: everyone knows these, which makes bluffing hard.
Santa, reindeer, Christmas tree, stocking, present, tinsel, elf, pudding, candy cane, carols, prawns, pavlova, wrapping paper, Christmas lights, cracker, mistletoe, snow globe, backyard cricket, ham, Boxing Day.
Hard words for adults
Ideas, not things. Clues get clever, and bluffing gets easier.
nostalgia, deadline, jealousy, first date, Monday morning, retirement, gossip, traffic jam, job interview, hangry, déjà vu, small talk, wedding speech, procrastination, luck, a secret, a road trip, a group chat, homesick, a power cut.
Play it on your TV
New to it? Read how to play the imposter game.
Questions
What are good words for the imposter game?
Things everyone knows with lots of sides to them: pizza, kangaroo, surfboard, birthday cake, lighthouse. For adults, try ideas like nostalgia or first date.
Can kids play the imposter game?
Yes. Use easy words they all know, like dinosaur, rainbow or ice cream, and let younger kids team up with a grown-up.
Where do the words come from on the TV?
In our Imposter game, the host picks a theme and every phone is dealt the word, except the Imposter's.
Let the TV deal the words
Imposter is in Basic, which costs nothing. Everyone joins on their phone.
Get started