1
as in imitation
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model
your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read
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2
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
an imitative extract never has the flavor of the real thing
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Recent Examples of imitative
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
Not surprisingly, Renaissance architects and writers ended up contriving very similar imitative strategies.
—Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
The social self is avoidance-based, conforming, imitative, predictable, planned, and hardworking.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitative
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
Not surprisingly, Renaissance architects and writers ended up contriving very similar imitative strategies.
—Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
The social self is avoidance-based, conforming, imitative, predictable, planned, and hardworking.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitative
Adjective
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In Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to ban synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, forcing millions of Sri Lanka’s farmers to go organic.—
Daniel Markind,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Over the years, Caguioa has replaced the headgear on deer with real antlers and the originals mounted on moose with synthetic alternatives.—
Paul Nicolaus,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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To get robotic collectives closer to Terminator’s mimetic polyalloy, the team wants to make the robots smaller.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
1 Mar. 2025
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These mimetic dynamics play out not just within countries but between them.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There are epic style moments in the new series, including one segment where Ashanti wears a white faux fur coat.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Amid all the showmanship on Thursday, hosted by a faux Austin Powers, there will be retro music and dancing.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Despite the often-predictable limitations of the genre, Ehren Kruger’s script avoids feeling formulaic (sorry).—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
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Look to make your investing as formulaic as possible.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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McMahon looked down on what wrestling had been, events where storytelling took place in the ring through simulated fights.—
Marc Raimondi
June 25,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2025
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The Field Day gives radio operators a chance to test their skills under simulated emergency conditions using only alternative power sources such as solar panels, batteries and generators.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Most analysts agree that Michael Misa, C, will be the No. 2 overall selection, but from pick No. 3 onward, mock drafts diverge sharply.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Undersized at 6-foot-2, but a strong and explosive 215 pounds, Martin’s role in the Gators’ national championship success along with strong workouts for NBA teams placed him in the second round of many mock drafts.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Even as the key date approaches, a close reading of the Kansas law makes clear that the deadline is largely artificial.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
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Both California and West Virginia have recently banned artificial dyes in foods served in schools.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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What To Know The number of people using GLP-1 mimic medications like Ozempic has skyrocketed in recent years.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
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The prospect of armies of AI bots that more closely mimic human users, and therefore resist detection, is both worrisome and probably inevitable.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 Oct. 2018
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Imitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitative. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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