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

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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 copycat
Noun
The copycats, including a former Zante employee, got to work immediately. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025 Why It Matters Authorities said the incidents were politically motivated and did not want to see copycats. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 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
  • But many others require clinicians to copy and paste transcripts, adding friction instead of removing it.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • To Goldsborough, the fact that Joker's behavior got copied by his peers reveals the strength of these monkeys' drive to learn from others, even if the behavior doesn't completely make sense or have an obvious, immediate benefit.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Christians are to imitate Christ, the true Good Samaritan, called to view all as nothing less than kin in sin and in the promise of salvation.
    Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
  • Volunteers rappelled from the top of a building as sirens went off and firecrackers erupted — apparently to imitate shelling in one drill in the Indian port city of Mumbai.
    Diaa Hadid, NPR, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • By then, Furlan had amassed roughly 8.6 million followers on the now-defunct social media app Vine — the most of any woman on the site.
    Nicole Briese, People.com, 19 May 2025
  • The club has four million followers on Instagram — double that of Sunday’s fellow finalists, United — and over 800k followers on TikTok.
    Asli Pelit, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Technically, what Teal replicates is an in-office HPV test—but because a large body of research has found that HPV testing is generally more effective at preventing cervical cancer than Pap smears, the screening recommendations for most people already emphasize the former.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 May 2025
  • According to the analysts, AI cannot replicate managing teams and handling customer relationships that require emotional intelligence and decision-making. 10.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Sadly, not even id Software themselves are trying to emulate them with The Dark Ages.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
  • The deck also includes a noise reduction circuit that emulates Dolby B, enabling it to play pre-recorded Dolby B cassette tapes.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The finish is long and slightly tannic, offering echoes of spiced wine and fig jam.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • The film appeared to have echoes to the Charles Sobhraj case, even down to the nickname of the antagonist.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As natural landscapes are converted to agriculture or taken over by urban sprawl, logging operations and oil and gas exploration, ecosystems become fragmented and the space that species need to survive and reproduce disappears.
    Karrigan Börk, The Conversation, 13 May 2025
  • In March, the internet went briefly wild over the ability to use 4o to reproduce cute family photos in the style of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli.
    Kelsey Piper, Vox, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Misdiagnoses are possible, the FDA cautioned, as symptoms may mimic allergic reactions or other skin conditions, delaying appropriate treatment.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
  • The gel mimics the feeling of down, offering a supportive but cushy experience.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Copycat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copycat. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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