copycat 1 of 2

Definition of copycatnext
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
Only 15 years ago, Chinese cars were often criticized for poor quality, weak safety standards and uninspiring copycat design. Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The copycats aren't the only ones showing up to pay their respects. Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Verb
Sometimes, people will copycat what other teams have done. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2022 And neither of us was that interested in trying to copycat any of the production elements of their songs, anyway. Vulture, 18 May 2022 See All Example Sentences for copycat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copycat
Noun
  • One of the more direct imitators of the SpaceX model is Blue Origin.
    David Szondy May 31, New Atlas, 31 May 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
Verb
  • With little difference in their policy platforms — Kelloff even claimed Romero copied his — voters will have to look to their backgrounds to decide.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 1 June 2026
  • Former Colorado elections clerk and conspiracy theorist Tina Peters is scheduled to be released from prison Monday after serving less than a quarter of a nine-year sentence for her role in a scheme to copy her county's election system.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • In a case of life imitating art, this whodunnit explores the investigation behind her disappearance, strangely resembling one of Christie’s own novels, where everyone in her life becomes a suspect, including her brother, Monty (Trevena).
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • Naturalistic plantings like these use large swaths of the same plants to imitate a natural setting.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • The backstory The Ritz-Carlton Maldives opening is bittersweet for followers of Kerry Hill, the late, venerated Australian architect responsible for some of the most legendary hotels in the last quarter-century (including several Aman properties and The Datai Langkawi).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • The Eternal Values promise Mierers lured followers in with discussions of enlightenment and mental clarity, often revolving around diet, exercise, celibacy, and the willingness to give up material possessions.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Cantina Leon, from The Rabbit Group LLC, is now open at The Plaza, with an eye toward replicating the community-first feeling of (no surprise here) the lively cantinas of Mexico.
    Connie Ogle May 31, Miami Herald, 31 May 2026
  • Those qualities can be diluted when they are replicated across thousands of stores and millions of consumers.
    Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Assuming, of course, those staffers don’t emulate Pelley and strongly and sharply disagree or challenge their boss in an internal staff meeting.
    Josef Adalian, Vulture, 3 June 2026
  • Like many performance EVs attempting to address the absence of combustion-engine noise, Genesis has also developed a bespoke electric Active Sound Design system to create a soundtrack that emulates an ICE vehicle.
    Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • According to AllRecipes, Walmart’s new beverages feature colorful packaging resembling papel picado, traditional Mexican paper banners, while flavors such as grapefruit and apple echo brands like Jarritos and Sidral Mundet.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 May 2026
  • The finish is medium-long, with lingering malt sweetness, oak, and a soft echo of spice.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Even when robots resemble people and can reproduce human-like behaviors, young children may not automatically attribute the same intentions, knowledge, or communicative value to them.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
  • But cultural legitimacy is considerably harder to reproduce.
    Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Copycat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copycat. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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