IMITATE Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'imitate' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imitate are ape , copy , mimic , and mock . While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation. // imitate a poet's style

Q: When is 'ape' a more appropriate choice than 'imitate'?

The words ape and imitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original. // American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

Q: Where would 'copy' be a reasonable alternative to 'imitate'?

The synonyms copy and imitate are sometimes interchangeable, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible. // copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Q: When is it sensible to use 'mimic' instead of 'imitate'?

The words mimic and imitate can be used in similar contexts, but mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation. // pupils mimicking their teacher

Q: When could 'mock' be used to replace 'imitate'?

The meanings of mock and imitate largely overlap; however, mock usually implies imitation with derision. // mocking a vain man's pompous manner

imitate

verb

ˈi-mə-ˌtāt

Definition of imitate next

as in to emulate

to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior teenage musicians who imitate whichever rock stars are hot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to parody

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of imitating someone's stutter and laughing at them is a cruel thing to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to reproduce

to make an exact likeness of a second-rate artist who was notorious for imitating the works of other painters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word imitate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imitate are ape, copy, mimic, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When is ape a more appropriate choice than imitate?

The words ape and imitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

Where would copy be a reasonable alternative to imitate?

The synonyms copy and imitate are sometimes interchangeable, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

When is it sensible to use mimic instead of imitate?

The words mimic and imitate can be used in similar contexts, but mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

When could mock be used to replace imitate?

The meanings of mock and imitate largely overlap; however, mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of imitate As for innovation, the Day-Date was the very first wrist watch to display the date and the weekday written in full, a true novelty at the time that’s been imitated by just about every brand since. —

Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2024 Paul Barrett: Zuckerberg Is Appeasing Trump Zuckerberg is imitating Musk to curry favor with Trump. —

Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025 However, just months after their characters shared their first kiss in 2019's in Spider-Man: Far from Home, life imitated art for the pair. —

Erin Clack, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025 Some scenes were removed entirely, and the entire film was subjected to the process of ‘stretch-printing,’ a not-very-satisfying way of forcing modern sound projectors to imitate the slower frame rate of many silent films. —

Jane Levere, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for imitate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitate

Verb

What To Watch For Large tech companies, like Meta and Microsoft, often serve as industry bellwethers, setting workforce and strategic trends that smaller companies and startups subsequently emulate.

— Jack Kelly, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Zaslav loves to emulate Disney corporate structures (i.e., Marvel has its Kevin Feige, DC has Gunn and Peter Safran) and that studio has one global distribution head (most recently Tony Chambers, who’s segueing to be the president of EMEA with a successor to be named).

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025