copycat 1 of 2

as in imitator
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way every rock singer who makes it big soon has a whole cluster of copycats

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copycat

2 of 2

verb

1
2
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior a performer who slavishly copycats another never rises to the level of true stardom

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 copycat
Noun
The original Friday the 13th film, which followed a group of counselors being murdered at a summer camp, was released in 1980 and become a box-office hit, spawning myriad slasher copycats that flooded theaters in the ’80s and beyond. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 24 Mar. 2025 With their limited capital flows, challenges with customer acquisition and head-on collision with ultra-fast fashion competitors (and sometimes copycats), smaller, ethically focused brands were struggling long before Donald Trump entered the White House for the second time. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 9 May 2025
Verb
Park mentioned the case of the Boston Marathon Bomber, in which social media led to misidentification of suspects, and possibly to copycat cases. Michael M. Dewitt, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2021 Its new twist on phishing alerts, though, could give it and copycat criminal hackers one more edge in a fight that’s already unfair. Brian Barrett, Wired, 14 Oct. 2021 See All Example Sentences for copycat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copycat
Verb
  • Government officials believe the impersonator used artificial intelligence to copy Wiles' voice for calls.
    Jordan King Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Many voters in Argentina believed that firm action was needed to correct course on Argentina’s deeply unstable economy; now, other leaders in Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. are seeking to copy Milei’s chainsaw approach to public spending.
    Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • At Cruise’s behest, McQuarrie’s stunts imitate the most primitive filmmaking — not the awe-inspiring magic of Georges Méliès but the Lumière brothers’ rudimentary documentation of action.
    Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
  • Walton imitated the big-box retail store and located them in small towns.
    Dileep Rao, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • On Instagram alone, both Life & Style and In Touch counted north of half a million followers in addition to robust websites.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
  • There, Rowling posts several times a day in support of gender fundamentalism to her 14 million-plus followers, frequently trading barbs with commenters—even fracturing her relationship with Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint—while toasting her own personal successes.
    Matt Craig, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Elias’ main strategy has been to replicate the success of his former team, the Houston Astros, who reached the AL Championship seven straight years from 2017-2023 while winning two World Series.
    Paul Bledsoe, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025
  • As an organism grows older, and its cells continue to replicate, the chances of cancerous mutations increase.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • A lot of people emulate some sort of legacy in order to shake the purse strings of their audience.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025
  • Who wants their grandchildren to emulate such limited vocabulary, negative language and divisive rhetoric?
    Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • This should not be a source of huge disquiet; not too long ago, Newcastle won a proper cup final rather than an echo of it.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Each part cleverly feeds to another, with echoes throughout the script.
    Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Set in the dystopian society of Gilead, The Handmaid’s Tale follows June (aka Offred) as she’s forced to reproduce with a high-ranking commander, all while secretly plotting to overthrow the totalitarian government and reunite with the daughter who was taken from her.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 May 2025
  • Per court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the band alleged that the use of the 1994 was unauthorized, along with the company reproducing an advertisement that was very similar to the 2002 music video directed by Spike Jonze.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Students can also participate in team challenges that mimic real-world collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Best Wayfair Patio Furniture Memorial Day Sales If staycations are on the calendar this year, outdoor furniture that mimics the luxury and comfort of a resort is a must.
    Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Copycat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copycat. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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