Definition of copynext

copy

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to reproduce
to make an exact likeness of for the movie, set designers copied the Oval Office in the White House down to the smallest detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior she shamelessly copies her idol's hairstyle and fashion choices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun copy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copy are duplicate, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When might duplicate be a better fit than copy?

While the synonyms duplicate and copy are close in meaning, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When would facsimile be a good substitute for copy?

The words facsimile and copy can be used in similar contexts, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to copy?

Although the words replica and copy have much in common, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of copy?

The words reproduction and copy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 copy
Noun
What used to be sold as a puffiness fix is now marketed as nervous system therapy, with the vagus nerve name-checked in product copy, TikTok tutorials and dermatology explainers. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Pick up a copy, turn off your phone, and cancel your plans for the next twenty-four hours. — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
La Presse said that a 2012 short story by Orelien had plagiarized passages from a book by French author Louis Pauwels, while a 2013 opinion piece copied from The Philippine Star newspaper. — CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 People swivel-chair between them, copying information from emails, clicking through numerous interfaces and other tools. — Bryan Goode, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for copy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copy
Noun
  • The abject terror of reproduction was personified by Lamashtu, demoness of the night, drinker of blood, eater of flesh, slayer of children, untimely opener of wombs, ravager of women.
    — Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But warmer temperatures favor mosquito reproduction and can mean the transmission season sometimes lasts as late as November, Bella explained.
    — Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Actual spaceflight also exposes cells to radiation and other conditions the experiment did not reproduce.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • That approach indicates that Cardsmiths isn’t exclusively reproducing the card but offering its own take.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The slow exchange with oxygen is imitated with micro-oxygenation technology — essentially, blowing bubbles through the wine.
    — Peter Hahn, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Speaking of the oversized, the collection’s Handloom Cardigan fits the bill but spares you from imitating a balloon, courtesy of those vertical stripes (also known as the oldest optical trick in the fashion book).
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • At the heart of the property sits Ruinas del Mar, a seafood restaurant designed to look like a replica of Aruba's Bushiribana gold mine ruins.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The South Side team even had a theme night in August dedicated to the Pope, where fans at Rate Field were given replica papal-style hats featuring the Sox logo in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Our wine ages for a full year in French oak, where the wood’s precise porosity allows just the right exchange with oxygen — softening the wine, concentrating its aromas and flavours, building complexity no machine can replicate.
    — Peter Hahn, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • This color choice was then replicated again for the shoe’s retro release in 2009.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Check out more popular Cetaphil products on Amazon to emulate Hargitay’s youthful, fresh-looking skin.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Production designer Will Hughes-Jones explained that his team employed human creativity to emulate the flawed look of AI software renderings.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The episode and its subsequent media coverage reveal how personal religious disciplines can be rendered as demands for accommodation.
    — Bhakti Mamtora, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • All four of those songs all also appear on proper albums, some in superior re-recordings, rendering the compilation a little redundant.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Instead of splintering, the waves naturally organize themselves into repeating geometric loops.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
  • If this scandal is not going to be repeated, further probing is essential.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copy. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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