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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
The beadboard cabinetry — painted a cool, dark green Sherwin Williams hue called Messenger Bag — features latches that mimic the original ones upstairs.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 8 Aug. 2025
IEEE Spectrum, 18 Oct. 2018
These mimic quantum circuits without needing quantum hardware—some examples include IBM Qiskit Aer and Google Cirq Simulator.
—Margarita Simonova, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
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
Verb
Napoli’s direction mimics the environment of a real-life social gathering, with some conversations happening simultaneously and live piano music occasionally underscoring the dialogue.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
The beadboard cabinetry — painted a cool, dark green Sherwin Williams hue called Messenger Bag — features latches that mimic the original ones upstairs.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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, 18 Oct. 2018
These mimic quantum circuits without needing quantum hardware—some examples include IBM Qiskit Aer and Google Cirq Simulator.
—Margarita Simonova, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
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
Verb
-
Although Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis had a cutthroat rivalry in Black Swan, life did not imitate art for the actresses, despite Darren Aronofsky‘s best attempts.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The fake pool has been designed to imitate the uppermost twenty feet of the real one as closely as possible, down to the contours of its sides, which are made not from rock but from plastic foam sealed with fibreglass.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Donald and Melania Trump approved a construction project in June to swap the garden's central lawn with white stone pavers that more closely emulate the Mar-a-Lago aesthetic.—
Kyler Alvord,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Devices like this make privacy a competitive advantage that other companies should emulate.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
King stayed back in San Diego during the Padres’ road trip after the All-Star break and threw a simulated game against minor-league hitters at Petco Park on July 28.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Sasaki is expected to face hitters for three simulated innings on Friday at Dodger Stadium, then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In Roeck’s picture, competitive, rather than imitative, habits of mind rose from religious warfare, establishing a cutthroat system of cultural and economic innovation which lasts to this day.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
-
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
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
Verb
-
The original Scary Movie franchise parodied the teen-slasher flicks that were so abundant in the late ’90s and aughts.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
-
South Park’s Eric Cartman parodies Kirk in the episode by asking a college student a question, referencing Kirk’s viral debates on college campuses.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This is about weaponizing curiosity to create competitive advantages that AI can't replicate and competitors can't copy.—
B.D. Dalton,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The British already had experience mass-producing cotton calico with prints such as chintz, and Dutch potters in Delft had long mastered the art of copying Chinese blue-and-white ceramics.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Once the domain of well-resourced threat actors, tools for creating synthetic images, videos and voices are now broadly available.—
Mohamed Lazzouni,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Situated near Surat, which is known as India’s synthetic textile capital, the new facility will have access to an abundant supply of polyester textile waste feedstock.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mimic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mimic. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share