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
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
Nolte said street-level beauty isn’t copying runway looks, but about absorbing their underlying mood.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
The director’s boss also began copying Amber on emails requesting data.
—Chris Lipp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Nolte said street-level beauty isn’t copying runway looks, but about absorbing their underlying mood.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
The director’s boss also began copying Amber on emails requesting data.
—Chris Lipp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copying
Verb
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Post-Soviet, Anthropocene, and post-independence frameworks can be overdetermined by these same spatial and political logics, translating them into periodizations that claim to mark historical breaks while reproducing their underlying assumptions.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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Dust mites thrive above 60 percent humidity, reproducing quickly and increasing allergen levels.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock uses this science by imitating the sun’s gradual rise and, when used over time, can even ease your circadian rhythm into a pattern.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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In critiquing Trump on social media, Newsom has taken to imitating the president’s tone, trolling Trump in his all-caps style.—
Meg Kinnard,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At around minute 23, emergency responders are seen rendering care and checking Martinez's body for exit wounds.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The programmatic shuffle is rendering parts of the old Artemis plan obsolete, leaving major ground hardware half-built and an uncertain future for the Gateway moon-orbiting space station under development.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Brady understands that emulating his father would work out quite well for him.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Before that awkward post-flight encounter, Liu made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night, gifting host Jimmy Fallon a wig emulating her iconic halo hair.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mesa College has gotten permission to offer a bachelor’s degree program for prospective physical therapy assistants despite opposition from California State University San Bernardino, which claimed that the San Diego community college was replicating one of its courses.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
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For younger cast members who underwent extensive physical training, Yuen emphasizes the importance of finding individual voices within the genre rather than simply replicating what has come before.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Families and advocates now say the current proposal risks repeating patterns that disproportionately affect Black and Latino students, focusing largely on downtown campuses while leaving many suburban schools in Almaden Valley untouched.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
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The early indications are that this pattern is repeating, with revenge attacks and destabilization efforts across as many as 20 Mexican states.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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McGee offers the example of duplicating triangle points by adding a prep faucet near the refrigerator.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Copying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copying. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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