ape 1 of 3

as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior was caught aping the substitute teacher's thick accent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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ape

2 of 3

adjective

ape

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ape distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ape are copy, imitate, mimic, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When is it sensible to use copy instead of ape?

The words copy and ape 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

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to ape?

Although the words imitate and ape have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When might mimic be a better fit than ape?

The words mimic and ape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

When could mock be used to replace ape?

While the synonyms mock and ape are close in meaning, 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 ape
Verb
And then third, Nixon, who had lost to Kennedy in the 1960 election, by the early 1970s, as president, was not about to ape and imitate the man who had bested him. Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Newsom aping Donald Trump’s syntax on social media, and setting up a special election to zap five Republicans out of their House seats. David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But now the world’s gorillas, and also their great-ape cousins, the chimpanzees, bonobos and orang-utans, face another threat from their human neighbours: covid-19. The Economist, 16 May 2020 Walking upright on two legs is considered a human trait that separates us from our ape relatives, like chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Apr. 2020
Noun
Various ape tribes fight for dominance, while human history has largely become the stuff of lore. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 That monicker presumably comes from the fact that like the legendary ape, the camera has a big footprint. New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ape
Verb
  • Art imitating life a little bit.
    Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • That work led to the Multisensory Correlation Detector (MCD), which could imitate human responses to simple audiovisual patterns like flashes and clicks.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • And that has led those countries to develop more and more sophisticated nuclear missiles to circumvent the boondoggle, which will be the golden dome, which our own experts say will not work.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The latter film was made based on the confessions of young people living in Latvia who openly spoke of patronizing teachers and parents, worries for the future and fears over fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
    Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • That the officiant would be a giant anthropoid jar of mayo named Manny Mayo was actually too good to be true.
    Heather Schroering, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Aug. 2025
  • By never breaking the anthropoid conceit — keeping Williams a chimp from working-class childhood obscurity to adult pop-stardom — Better Man evolves into the most honest and exploratory showbiz movie ever made.
    Armond White, National Review, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As more service members reenter civilian life, cities may look to emulate the models of top performers.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Because social media offers a sense of community, Kiser's platform may emulate an experience similar to that of group therapy, Aldad said.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • This has unintended consequences when both Batel and Spock share a vision that sends Spock into a berserk rage.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 July 2025
  • But that was before Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear and before UConn star Paige Bueckers went absolutely berserk, scoring 40 in the Sweet 16.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Friendly goats treat downward dog posers as their own obstacle courses, scrambling atop yogis who may just find that supporting the weight of their agile farm friends is a surprisingly vigorous — and hilarious — core workout.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Rideshare posers have also allegedly raped passengers.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Rodents, possums, and skunks show up to snack on the flesh and seeds.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
    Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Yet Fulton County officials have still insisted the ballots could not be copied or released.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Promoter sequences are short stretches of DNA that tell the cell’s copying machinery where a new protein starts.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ape. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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