1
as in emulating
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
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2
as in parodying
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 copying
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
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Recent Examples of imitating
The sketch sees Sarah Sherman imitating Wood’s Chelsea, cartoonishly wide-eyed, donned in large false teeth and speaking in a thick accent.
—
Claire Franken, TVLine, 13 Apr. 2025
The company uses data and AI learning to simulate attacks that go beyond just imitating an individual’s voice – like most modern sophisticated phishing attacks, the technology uses details about someone’s family, background, personality and more.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
Starr said from the stage, imitating a screaming girl’s voice.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
Then, Judge made a special tribute to Brett by imitating the retired player’s flex move after the chanting, a tribute Judge has done in the years since Brett retired.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
The United States and others are imitating China in large part because China succeeded in a way that was unexpected.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
For George Clooney, art is imitating life a little too closely lately.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
Now, with over 25 films between them, the project stands as a tremendous example of life imitating art, as the characters travel to Greece to film Pina’s latest project, taking advantage of hefty film rebates and scouring the country for prime shoot locations.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
There's a lot of art imitating life, too, with Daniel learning from Johnny’s aggressive style and Johnny getting a crash course in Daniel’s balance and defense.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
Claire Franken, TVLine, 13 Apr. 2025
The company uses data and AI learning to simulate attacks that go beyond just imitating an individual’s voice – like most modern sophisticated phishing attacks, the technology uses details about someone’s family, background, personality and more.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
Starr said from the stage, imitating a screaming girl’s voice.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
Then, Judge made a special tribute to Brett by imitating the retired player’s flex move after the chanting, a tribute Judge has done in the years since Brett retired.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
The United States and others are imitating China in large part because China succeeded in a way that was unexpected.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
For George Clooney, art is imitating life a little too closely lately.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
Now, with over 25 films between them, the project stands as a tremendous example of life imitating art, as the characters travel to Greece to film Pina’s latest project, taking advantage of hefty film rebates and scouring the country for prime shoot locations.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
There's a lot of art imitating life, too, with Daniel learning from Johnny’s aggressive style and Johnny getting a crash course in Daniel’s balance and defense.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitating
Verb
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As a kid in Los Angeles’s Chatsworth neighborhood, growing up on a property that had once belonged to cowboy star Roy Rogers, Kilmer began studying acting in grammar school, already dreaming of emulating Hollywood’s eccentric nonpareil, Marlon Brando.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Simply brush the head of one brow upwards and angle the hairs towards the bridge of your nose, emulating the charm of a browlick.—
Megan Decker,
Refinery29,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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What sets Fay apart, too, is the harmonious amalgamation of characteristically Italian design with the sensibility of New England—and its earnest commitment not to appropriating or copying a certain aesthetic, but to embracing it authentically and blending it perfectly with Fay’s own design values.—
Caroline Reilly,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2025
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Over time, the tradition gained cultural significance, and many started copying it in the hopes of a prosperous year ahead.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Bannon talked over and through Newsom’s questions, goading the governor at certain points, gently mocking him at others.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
20 Mar. 2025
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In the essay, the 37-year-old recalled how Trachtenberg was often bullied by their peers, with kids mocking her for her role in Harriet the Spy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That means doing your best to find even the smallest ways to make self-care part of your daily routine.—
Miranda Rake,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2025
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The agency said gushes of water flooded downstream villages, catching the children who were fishing or doing laundry on a nearby river by surprise and also destroying agricultural equipment and killing livestock.—
Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
arkansasonline.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Inspired by the challenge of replicating human-like precision in physical tasks, the team embarked on a journey to build a basketball-playing robot.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
27 Dec. 2024
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The team attached seven commercially available strain gauges to a flexible wing structure replicating hummingbird wings.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This means that the color rendering under a light source should be as natural as possible compared to daylight.—
Desireé Oostland,
Vogue,
31 Dec. 2024
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Some celebrities have been accused of operating pump-and-dump schemes with their coins, using their social media following to artificially inflate the value of these coins before cashing in their large holdings and rendering the coins worthless.—
Ben Dandridge-Lemco,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Imitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitating. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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