1
as in imitation
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model
your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read
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2
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
an imitative extract never has the flavor of the real thing
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Recent Examples of imitative
Conversations in dorm rooms and lecture halls consist of roughly 97% university-loathing and imitative protests to fire coaches and athletic directors.
—
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Third-party imitative learning from an immigrating parrot’s flockmates may facilitate overall group integration and social bonding and may even give rise to cultural conventions of coordinated movements or gestures.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
In Roeck’s picture, competitive, rather than imitative, habits of mind rose from religious warfare, establishing a cutthroat system of cultural and economic innovation which lasts to this day.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Nautilus is bold in its changes to Captain Nemo’s story — new monsters, new villains — but imitative to other genre series in execution, and the vibe is a little didactic.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitative
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Third-party imitative learning from an immigrating parrot’s flockmates may facilitate overall group integration and social bonding and may even give rise to cultural conventions of coordinated movements or gestures.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
In Roeck’s picture, competitive, rather than imitative, habits of mind rose from religious warfare, establishing a cutthroat system of cultural and economic innovation which lasts to this day.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Nautilus is bold in its changes to Captain Nemo’s story — new monsters, new villains — but imitative to other genre series in execution, and the vibe is a little didactic.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitative
Adjective
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Surf Sweets offers gummy worms and bears without synthetic colors.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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Textile Exchange said these finding support its pathways to preferred production systems, which aim to eliminate or reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers in alignment with organic and regenerative production practices.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One of the most delightful examples of mimetic architecture along Route 66, this West Hollywood gem does exactly what the structure suggests: serves mouthwatering hot dogs.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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This image oscillates between mimetic naturalism and the geometry of the digital design process.—
Thomas Demand,
Artforum,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These faux linen drapes from NiceTown build on the versatility of semi-sheers with 16 color choices and both rod pocket and back tab installation options.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
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The chairs have metal frames for plenty of strength, durability, and stability, but they’re handpainted to offer a faux-wood look that feels more elevated and classic than a typical metal chair.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Before leaving the production line, each robot undergoes 41 simulated work-condition tests.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Project’s participants were instructed to fight one another and endure simulated drowning, among other humiliations and discomforts, while remaining awake for most of three days.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The scheme is formulaic but effective.—
Ben Weiss,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Typically in times of geopolitical turmoil, analysts look to the past for precedents and templates, but history is idiosyncratic, not formulaic.—
Paul Swartz,
Harvard Business Review,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The rotating space station demonstrates centrifugal artificial gravity, reflecting concepts studied by real aerospace engineers.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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Its rotating space station demonstrates centrifugal artificial gravity, reflecting concepts studied by real aerospace engineers.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In his new mock draft, Miller has the Bills picking up a key weapon.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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In addition to the original trunk and items on display, the Center for Sacramento History and the history museum created a mock trunk inspired by the original for school programs throughout the region.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Obama recently teamed up with NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards to squash their fake beef while promoting his Obama Presidential Center opening June 19 in Chicago.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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The studio put an ad in The Boston Globe in December that looked like a fake engagement announcement.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Imitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitative. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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