1
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
2
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
3
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
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
These technologies can imitate voices, faces and even emotional expressions with uncanny precision.
—
Jennifer C. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
And beyond device checks, smart verification systems can also monitor behavioral signals—like typing speed, location, or login habits—to spot anomalies that a cloned voice can’t imitate.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 10 July 2025
His celebration imitated him sitting down playing a video game – a tribute to his former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota who died in a car crash last week.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 10 July 2025
This is not a destination with aspirations of imitating the all-inclusive, tourist-heavy spring break vibes long associated with Cabo.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitate
Jennifer C. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
And beyond device checks, smart verification systems can also monitor behavioral signals—like typing speed, location, or login habits—to spot anomalies that a cloned voice can’t imitate.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 10 July 2025
His celebration imitated him sitting down playing a video game – a tribute to his former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota who died in a car crash last week.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 10 July 2025
This is not a destination with aspirations of imitating the all-inclusive, tourist-heavy spring break vibes long associated with Cabo.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitate
Verb
-
Another consideration is insulation: Lots of it, easily twice the code minimum, to emulate the thick walls of a mudbrick hut and slow heat transfer.—
Sam Bloch,
Time,
28 July 2025
-
Run by Bushwick locals and brothers Max and Spencer Nelson and friend Jordan Dubey, the pizzeria aims to emulate your favorite dive bar, but with better food.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
The Muppet Show was parodying a format that doesn’t exist anymore.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
6 June 2025
-
Reno 911! is a mockumentary comedy series that parodies law enforcement and premiered on Comedy Central in 2003.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
The disease is considered a highly invasive tumor in the central nervous system because its cells reproduce extremely quickly.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
23 July 2025
-
With wild pigs reproducing rapidly and damaging both crops and ecosystems, researchers say more action is needed at the policy level.—
Vanessa Countryman,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
But its decision to copy a Chinese artificial intelligence lab in 2025 in an effort to compete with OpenAI backfired, forcing the company to overhaul its AI strategy.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
-
Any buyer willing to front the resources to buy Chrome is not likely to be interested in perfectly copying everything Google has done, and would rather compete on its own terms according to its own business interests.—
Alissa Cooper,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
When the Tea app breach occurred, social media users relished in mocking and threatening the safety of the women whose personal information had been leaked.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Vice President Vance mocked critics of an American Eagle jeans ad featuring Sydney Sweeney in an interview published Friday, blaming Democrats for public discourse arguing the commercial endorses eugenics.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Travel becomes a proxy for visibility, mentorship, exposure, and accelerated development—all of which are things that no Zoom call can replicate.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The Neuroscience Center of Excellence Act, introduced in 2021 to replicate oncology's success for brain disease, stalled in committee.—
Shahriar Minokadeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While many dogs love playing with any ball, as the chase and catch mimics their hunting instincts, the color and texture of a tennis ball specifically capture a canine's attention, according to Rover.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
-
To simulate the harshest conditions, Gore’s environmental chamber can mimic nearly any condition on the globe, such as rain rates up to 22 inches per hour, hurricane-level windspeeds and relative humidity.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
No matter what Ulla was doing, Mala had to be doing that and something better, Ulla complained.—
Kiran Desai,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
-
However, those whose closets are truly bursting at the seams may need to do so even more often.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitate. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share