MIMIC Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of mimic are ape , copy , imitate , and mock . While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation. // pupils mimicking their teacher

Q: Where would 'ape' be a reasonable alternative to 'mimic'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mimic , ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original. // American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

Q: When would 'copy' be a good substitute for 'mimic'?

The words copy and mimic can be used in similar contexts, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible. // copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

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

The meanings of imitate and mimic largely overlap; however, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation. // imitate a poet's style

Q: In what contexts can 'mock' take the place of 'mimic'?

In some situations, the words mock and mimic are roughly equivalent. However, mock usually implies imitation with derision. // mocking a vain man's pompous manner

mimic 1 of 3

verb

Definition of mimic

as in to imitate

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of the comedian was famous for mimicking the President's distinctive lisp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to emulate

to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior began to learn their language by mimicking the sounds they made

Synonyms & Similar Words

mimic

2 of 3

adjective

as in simulated

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials police were concerned that the mimic gun, although intended only as a toy, might be confused with the real thing in certain situations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in imitative

using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model a mimic battle fought by kids playing around in the schoolyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mimic

3 of 3

noun

ˈmi-mik

as in imitator

a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect a gifted mimic who can do a terrific imitation of anyone's voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in mime

an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements a mimic in black clothes and white facial makeup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mimic distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mimic are ape, copy, imitate, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

Where would ape be a reasonable alternative to mimic?

While in some cases nearly identical to mimic, ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When would copy be a good substitute for mimic?

The words copy and mimic can be used in similar contexts, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

When could imitate be used to replace mimic?

The meanings of imitate and mimic largely overlap; however, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

In what contexts can mock take the place of mimic?

In some situations, the words mock and mimic are roughly equivalent. 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 mimic

Verb

Mounjaro mimics two hormones that occur naturally in the body, which regulate blood sugar and appetite; the medication slows down gastric emptying and helps the pancreas release insulin as blood sugar rises. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Such a beautiful sculpture, mimicking the swirls found in nature (the cosmos, shells, Fibonacci-following topiary) felt a far cry from the swirl of emotions prompted by my favorite TV shows. — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026

Noun

The buttons in the front mimic the look of a quintessential office essential — the button-up shirt — and the length and sleeves provide just the right amount of coverage. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025 Her jokester father worked for a railway; her realtor mother was a gifted mimic whose impressions of clients enlivened family dinners. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mimic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mimic

Verb

Here was a government that had explicitly borrowed from Beijing’s developmental playbook and sincerely attempted to imitate it, but failed.

— Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
These are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists that imitate a natural hormone in the gut.

— Stephanie Stephens, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Definition of imitate

Verb

After the season ended, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka cited Mitchell’s progression between the guard’s first and second years as a model for player development the Lakers wanted to emulate.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
After the United States was founded in 1776, leaders like Thomas Jefferson chose to emulate classical architecture when building its Washington, DC, capital as a nod to the democratic ideals of the Greek and Roman empires.

— Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 4 July 2026

Definition of emulate

Adjective

Together, those technologies allow the robot to learn human movements through thousands of simulated training sessions before executing them in dynamic real-world environments.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
The habitat is complete with private crew quarters, a crop cultivation area, an airlock and a sandbox for simulated Mars walks.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of simulated

Adjective

The word is likely imitative (onomatopoeic), echoing the sound of heavy breathing during sleep.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention.

— Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025

Definition of imitative

Noun

But the arrival of Buc-ee's supercharged the trend and spawned imitators like Wally's, which has three 50,000-square-foot locations in the Midwest, with plans for more.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 July 2026
The frontier labs keep shipping the next capability while the imitators are still training on the last one, and the value keeps accruing to whoever is ahead rather than to whoever copied the leader's previous answers.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of imitator

Verb

The song was featured on the album Album 1700 and parodied the style of famous acts of the time, including The Beatles and The Mamas & The Papas.

— Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
As Buffy Gilmore, Shannon Elizabeth parodied the girl-next-door archetype, eventually proving to be not so innocent behind the scenes.

— Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 June 2026

Definition of parody

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Style

“Mimic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mimic. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mimic

verb

adjective

noun

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