mimic 1 of 3

verb

Definition of mimicnext
1
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

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2
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

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mimic

2 of 3

adjective

1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mimic

3 of 3

noun

ˈmi-mik How to pronounce mimic (audio)
1
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

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2
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
These podcasts inevitably start to mimic reality TV, in providing both mindless entertainment and a deeply engaging connection to the talent. —Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025 By structuring investments through SPVs, nonprofits can mimic the startup model, rewarding those who help drive success without violating their nonprofit status. —Larry Bomback, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
These JLab earbuds come in 16 colors, including seven that closely mimic skin tones. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 8 May 2024 In the clip, the mimic octopus impersonates one of these creatures, turning his tentacles into snake-like appendages that are the same colors as a sea krait. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
Phishing sites are fraudulent mimics of login pages for sensitive sites. —PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025 The leather upholstery in my test car is embossed with elegant diamond patterns for the front- and second-row seats that the tasteful metal door trim mimics. —Doug Newcomb, PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for mimic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mimic
  1. imitate
  2. emulate
  3. simulated
  4. imitative
  5. mime
  6. parody
  7. copy
  8. synthetic
Verb
  • The Cubs beat the Dodgers 16-0 on Saturday, featuring an entertaining moment in which position-player-pitching Miguel Rojas imitated the deliveries of a few Dodgers pitchers.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Moreover, these models can imitate individuals' or industries' writing styles and wording.
    — Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of imitate
Verb
  • Donald Trump's initial ascent to the presidency inspired right-wing populist politicians around the world, many of whom sought to emulate his anti-establishment and anti-immigrant messaging.
    — Scott Neuman, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Jordan’s dual roles emulate the Rodriquez siblings who were played by George Clooney and Tarantino himself, but with no sense of parody.
    — Armond White, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of emulate
Adjective
  • The wonderfully unexpected opening sequence takes us inside a cockpit where the co-pilot’s warnings of discrepancies in the plane’s navigation system go unheeded by the captain, who steers them into a simulated fiery crash.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
  • When the simulated flight crashes, the screen turns into a wall of fire, and there’s Nathan.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • Explaining Traditions - Folk Behavior In Modern Culture By Simon J. Bronner This kind of imitative play—not just Cooties but also House or Cops and Robbers—helps children make sense of the world.
    — Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The social self is avoidance-based, conforming, imitative, predictable, planned, and hardworking.
    — Ellen Choi, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of imitative
Noun
  • After a random stint as a mime in Paris, Rush got his big break in 1996, starring in Shine as the child-prodigy pianist David Helfgott.
    — airmail.news, airmail.news, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The message, transmitted close to the audience as dancers Jessica Fiala and Tamara Nadel mime a slow-motion, rolling of dice, is crystal clear: There are consequences to gambling with karma.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of mime
Verb
  • Silent comedies are often parodied as mere exercises in physical humor — and that element is certainly a part of their charm — but Chaplin’s work transcended pratfalls and knowing looks to the camera.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Letterman, a true believer in Johnny Carson, didn’t really parody talk shows either.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of parody
Verb
  • Its origins date back to 19th-century Maine as a term given to someone initiating or copying the work or actions of others.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
  • For example, customer details might be copied into the orders table, eliminating the need for joins when querying orders.
    — Arie Abramovici, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of copy
Adjective
  • The synthetic test results suggest a substantial performance gain when moving from the RTX 4060 Ti to the RTX 5060 Ti across the board.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The Indianapolis facility includes a manufacturing plant that will begin producing drugs in 2026 and a site that represents the largest investment to make active pharmaceutical ingredients for synthetic medicines in the country's history.
    — Alice Park, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of synthetic

Browse Nearby Words

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mimic
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Cite this Entry

“Mimic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mimic. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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