copycats 1 of 2

Definition of copycatsnext
plural of copycat
as in imitators
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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copycats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of copycat
1
2
as in imitates
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 copycats
Noun
With so much of the NHL’s top talent concentrated among teams that had been picking at the top of the draft, and with most of the Cup titles starting to go to those three clubs, the copycats followed. James Mirtle, New York Times, 21 May 2026 The copycats aren't the only ones showing up to pay their respects. Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 Creator denounces copycats The trend is largely credited to a TikTok video posted in March by an anonymous creator called Swhileyy. Drew Pittock, USA Today, 6 May 2026 What real cookbook authors say about AI copycats. Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 That Serial season was downloaded more than 300 million times, and its success spawned thousands of copycats and a vast community of true-crime fans. The Week Us, TheWeek, 4 May 2026 Other internet critics slammed his great-uncle's creation as touristy, insisting diners could find tastier versions among the legion of copycats. Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026 Other internet critics slammed his great-uncle’s creation as touristy, insisting diners could find tastier versions among the legion of copycats. Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2026 And just as Elon Musk’s initial moonshot package spawned a whole class of copycats (including Musk’s more recent $1 trillion plan), Ferracone expects other tech companies to mimic Meta’s latest move. Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copycats
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
  • The logic behind the format essentially copies what Spotify has done with podcasts, which is shorter listens leading to longer-form engagement over time.
    Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • On a party count, that is 4-3 for the Dems and the one-for-you, one-for-me bipartisan staffing copies the Board of Elections.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Like most creative endeavors, art imitates life at Monse.
    Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 29 May 2026
  • The Yellow Chartreuse with its honeyed complexity imitates the lingering natural sweetness of the agave nectar, and the juicy bittersweet orange from the Aperol takes the role of the Cointreau, all atop a subtle smoky backbone.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • The series, produced by Miraculous Corp, the joint venture between Mediawan and ZAG, is broadcast in more than 150 territories and has amassed over 60 million followers across social media platforms.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 June 2026
  • What may not be as familiar is Smith’s consistently upbeat attitude in the midst of chaos, capturing it all for her followers on Instagram and YouTube as The Unlikely Countrywoman.
    Caroline Utz, The Spruce, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • The test consisted of a 7-MW grid simulator that replicates disturbances and voltage ride-through events, and a 20-MW load simulator that reproduces real-world demand dynamics such as those created by an AI data center.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This includes the importance of gestures such as going to retrieve from the family casket a pin that reproduces the British and American flags together, as well as those that actually fly on the streets of Washington.
    Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Virgin with Codex emulates the original painting’s translucent hair.
    Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • Unlike Diller’s, hers was laid-back and authoritative, with echoes of Miranda Priestly (another stylish doyenne with a beleaguered protégée).
    Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 29 May 2026
  • There are the faintest echoes of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre in the Yorkshire Moors setting.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Jesse’s on the Bay replicates the stellar service and elevated cuisine that draw folks in droves to its sister restaurant, Jesse’s, in the tiny town of Magnolia Springs.
    Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
  • Aniello, who directed both bookend episodes, replicates her own long, dynamic shot from the series premiere, which tracks Deborah from the closing joke of her zillionth Vegas set, through a backstage warren of minions and admirers, to her dressing room.
    Judy Berman, Time, 29 May 2026

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“Copycats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copycats. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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