imitator

Definition of imitatornext
1
as in follower
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way an Elvis imitator in a sequinned jumpsuit

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2
as in performer
a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect that comedian is a hilarious imitator of a surprising array of current celebrities

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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 imitator Over the past year, a wave of imitators loaded public-company balance sheets with cryptocurrencies in hopes of sparking stock rallies, but that trade has since soured. Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Unfortunately, Winger committed the mortal sins of having a pretty boy lead singer and painfully cheesy videos (even by 80s standards), so most people dismissed them and Beach as cheap imitators. Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Boards can adopt it, investors can ask for it, cities can condition incentives on it, and the companies with the best results have the most to gain from standards, because standards are how leaders get distinguished from imitators. Tonya M. Evans, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 That's the real test that will ultimately determine whether the Denza Z is a genuine rival or simply another very fast imitator. New Atlas, 25 July 2026 But the arrival of Buc-ee's supercharged the trend and spawned imitators like Wally's, which has three 50,000-square-foot locations in the Midwest, with plans for more. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Steven Spielberg's dino masterpiece — which has spawned six sequels and countless imitators — ushered in a new wave of CGI filmmaking and became an instant sensation beyond what original author Michael Crichton could ever have envisioned. Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 Their clothes inspired imitators. Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Three Things That Define the Category Understanding what distinguishes a genuine moonshot company matters more now that the category has attracted imitators — organizations that have adopted the language of transformation without the underlying architecture. Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitator
Noun
  • Beliefs and practices Modern Druidry is an open and eclectic religion, allowing for considerable variation in the beliefs and practices of its followers.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The wording led some of Hank’s followers to accuse him of using ChatGPT.
    Matt Carlstrom, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The Philadelphia Phillies endured another frustrating loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night, and the fallout reached a poor performer almost immediately.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Aronow started out as a performer herself, her childhood spent singing popular jingles for Hasbro and Kidz Bop.
    Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Denis sees echoes of that survival strategy in the behavior of Haitians in South Florida and elsewhere across the United States, where many have withdrawn from public view.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The tit-for-tat brings up echoes of last year, when the rivals were locked in a blistering trade war.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The actor arrived in a regal sky blue high-neck top with a long cascading train and clashing red lining — custom designed by Prabal Gurung — offset with a casual pair of low slung, non-maternity jeans by La Ligne that skimmed just under her bump.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Brands should get in before this propels the actor even further into the mainstream.
    Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The black and white photographs work especially well hung just a wall away from the Impressionists, many of who also work in black and white and concentrate on the slightest shadows.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2026
  • My first visit was in 1995 for a retrospective of 19th century Impressionist painter Gustave Caillebotte.
    David Allen, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The ceremony ultimately went ahead with an Elvis impersonator officiating as Kacie wore a white dress and white cowboy hat.
    Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
  • These impersonators and scammers tie into a broader issue regarding how AI-generation tools are being used to enable cybercriminals.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Comedian, actor, and entertainer Bill Bellamy will be presented with the Icon Award at the 2026 Whats Funny Comedy Festival, recognizing his decades of excellence and impact on stand-up comedy and entertainment.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Jelly-Schapiro, the author of a new biography of Belafonte, considers the entertainer’s distinctive combination of mainstream appeal and radical politics.
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The latter line, in its phrasing and melody and even the musical tone of its words, is an almost perfect mimic of Santa Claus asking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to guide his sleigh.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
  • In design reviews, require product owners to specify which consumer or internal patterns the new workflow mimics; adjust UI labels and steps to match those mental models.
    Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Imitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitator. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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