1
as in reproducing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imitating
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
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Recent Examples of copying
Apple has always taken a unique approach to the design of its office apps, rather than copying Microsoft 365's ribbon-style convention like most competitors.
—
Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
To be clear, do yourself a favor and don’t ruin your March by copying a pasting a Golden bracket.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The human brain doesn’t achieve intelligence by copying one type of neuron billions of times, but by combining many different specialized cell types and circuits that work together.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Trader Joe’s is also facing a legal challenge from Smucker, which has filed a lawsuit accusing it of copying its trademark crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, The Times reported last year.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
But admiring an athlete and copying their choices are two different things — and a smiley piercing, especially one done at home, comes with real health risks that the ADA has specifically flagged.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
The American Dental Association (ADA) is now urging fans to think twice before copying the look.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
However, simply copying a movement is not enough.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The city of Peabody was hacked last summer with the mayor's office saying someone got into their systems and began copying certain files.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
To be clear, do yourself a favor and don’t ruin your March by copying a pasting a Golden bracket.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The human brain doesn’t achieve intelligence by copying one type of neuron billions of times, but by combining many different specialized cell types and circuits that work together.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Trader Joe’s is also facing a legal challenge from Smucker, which has filed a lawsuit accusing it of copying its trademark crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, The Times reported last year.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
But admiring an athlete and copying their choices are two different things — and a smiley piercing, especially one done at home, comes with real health risks that the ADA has specifically flagged.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
The American Dental Association (ADA) is now urging fans to think twice before copying the look.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
However, simply copying a movement is not enough.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
The city of Peabody was hacked last summer with the mayor's office saying someone got into their systems and began copying certain files.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copying
Verb
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Despite religious and phenotypic differences, people around the western Mediterranean Sea have been interacting, trading, warring, migrating, and reproducing together for centuries.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
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Vexingly, the war with Iran is reproducing in macrocosm what those wars taught in microcosm.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of them was imitating his voice.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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Another popular skit features Garcia imitating Hispanic mothers who constantly call their children to warn them about the dangers of solo travel, such as getting kidnapped and never seeing their family again.—
Xitlalic Montelongo,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Its lifeworld, its temporal and spatial perspective, contrasts with the human, rendering our characters as distant, as inanimate, as the stelae and sculptures that surround them.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
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As Lewis was rendering aid he was struck by a third vehicle, authorities said.—
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Switch 2 can use this tool to improve graphics by emulating a docked experience for original Switch games, but Nintendo notes there are drawbacks.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
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Growing up raised by her father in South Carolina, Lambert had to teach herself how to do her hair, often emulating the styles of her aunts and older cousins.—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Pop Mart's chances of replicating that success with newer characters such as Skullpanda and Twinkle Twinkle have come under investor scrutiny with the momentum that drove a massive rally in the stock over the past two years beginning to fade.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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His young nephew provided the entertainment, whacking a plastic ball around with a toy club on the lawn, replicating pro golf mannerisms a little too closely.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The man hung up, and called again minutes later, repeating the same threats.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Can the Jayhawks avoid repeating history?—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And Payton conceded that Denver can’t count on duplicating the 12-2 record in one-score games the Broncos achieved last season.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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But current and former leaders of foster care agencies told the Tampa Bay Times last year that the claims were exaggerated or false, and that the Hope Florida program was duplicating existing efforts in child welfare.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Copying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copying. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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