as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior
was caught aping the substitute teacher's thick accent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in nuclear
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in aper
Related Words
2
as in anthropoid
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ape
James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
More importantly, this origin story of a movie and a movement apes the joie de moviemaking and the jazzy looseness of the original to an absolutely amazing degree, replicating an off-the-cuff feeling that’s more than a second-hand buzz.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
While our ape ancestors might well have been consuming naturally fermented alcohol for millions of years, only humans, with our powers of logical inference, have been able to refine the process.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ape
Verb
The failure of Hollywood’s first take on Godzilla, which reimagined this towering icon into a skittering lizard that was clearly aping more from Jurassic Park than any of the kaiju films that came before it, positioned the start of Godzilla’s third era as something of a return to form.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
More importantly, this origin story of a movie and a movement apes the joie de moviemaking and the jazzy looseness of the original to an absolutely amazing degree, replicating an off-the-cuff feeling that’s more than a second-hand buzz.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Yet Ben, as a slasher, represents a minor triumph of practical effects (he’s played by Miguel Torres Umba in an ape suit).
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
While our ape ancestors might well have been consuming naturally fermented alcohol for millions of years, only humans, with our powers of logical inference, have been able to refine the process.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ape
Verb
-
Often imitated, never duplicated.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
My dad would tell jokes, and my mom would tell stories and imitate everyone within the stories.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Trump, in particular, noted his administration changed the name of the Defense Department back to the War Department, boosted federal spending for military families, bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, and conducted the Maduro operation in Venezuela.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That the officiant would be a giant anthropoid jar of mayo named Manny Mayo was actually too good to be true.—
Heather Schroering,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Aug. 2025
-
By never breaking the anthropoid conceit — keeping Williams a chimp from working-class childhood obscurity to adult pop-stardom — Better Man evolves into the most honest and exploratory showbiz movie ever made.—
Armond White,
National Review,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Skip the no-shows and ankle socks—instead, go for crew socks in a bold color (maybe cherry red or icy blue) to emulate our favorite recent street-style looks.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
10 Feb. 2026
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Not coincidentally, some within this political camp are pointing to Bukele’s approach to security as something to emulate.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This has unintended consequences when both Batel and Spock share a vision that sends Spock into a berserk rage.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
31 July 2025
-
But that was before Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear and before UConn star Paige Bueckers went absolutely berserk, scoring 40 in the Sweet 16.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Costumed reporters and awkward celebrity posers.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom became, by his own definition, a poser.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
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At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even Target’s decision to use money saved by white-collar job cuts to boost pay for store workers is copied from Walmart, which pivoted faster to digital sales and boosted wages under the protection of its billionaire family, the Waltons.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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For a lower price tag, copy this style with these comfortable, flattering wide-leg pants from Amazon.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ape. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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