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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Current shark deterrent technologies often try to mimic nature, using electric fields, magnets, or even visual patterns to keep sharks at bay. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 Additionally, the students train on a table that mimics conducting an autopsy, taking them through all the systems parts of the body. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
Adjective
That is, the mimic leaves were longer, and less lobed. —Ari Daniel, NPR, 14 Sep. 2024 Sting is also a mimic, able to copy Charlotte’s whistle, even though, as the slightly creepy would-be scientist living upstairs tells her, spiders don’t have vocal cords. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
Creatures abound, such as a shape-shifting mimic disguised as a chest, and yes, of course there will be a dragon, here seen as a projection. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025 Males try to mate with infected mimics, females are drawn in by the performance, and the fungus passes silently between them all. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 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
  • Perhaps the Lake Bluff streakers heard of those at CLC and wanted to imitate them.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
  • The park’s hub-and-spoke design has been copied by parks around the world, but the caliber of Disneyland’s craftsmanship wasn’t easily imitated.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Definition of imitate
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of emulate
Adjective
  • Another way to solve complex games is by training an AI player through huge numbers of simulated games.
    — Andrew Montequin, jsonline.com, 29 July 2025
  • To that point, Darvish dressed in full uniform and threw about 26 pitches in the bullpen after King’s simulated game, putting him on schedule to start Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • 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
  • The word was likely imitative of the deep humming sound male bees make.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of imitative
Noun
  • Once Phoenix and Colbert get close to the film, however, Phoenix mimes getting up to leave.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 18 July 2025
  • As for populating those living Polaroids, dancers and mimes were hired so that they were better trained to stand still in the correct positions.
    — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
Definition of mime
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
Definition of parody
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
Definition of copy
Adjective
  • But there’s alignment between the parties on regulating deepfake pornography and synthetic child abuse material, which could kickstart a series of legislative actions, Sexton said.
    — Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 23 July 2025
  • The push for tools to address overdoses has taken on more urgency as deaths from synthetic opioids have skyrocketed in Texas and across the U.S. Fentanyl was identified as the likely cause of a surge of 79 overdoses in Austin last spring, which killed nine people.
    — Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
Definition of synthetic

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mimetic
mimic
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Cite this Entry

“Mimic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mimic. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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