Synonyms of imitate

imitate

verb

ˈi-mə-ˌtāt 

1

as in to emulate

to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior

teenage musicians who imitate whichever rock stars are hot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emulate
• copy
• mimic
• repeat
• mock
• ape
• mime
• parody
• echo
• perform
• play
• copycat
• caricature
• impersonate
• ditto
• lampoon
• reecho
• burlesque
• pantomime
• travesty

2

as in to parody

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of

imitating someone's stutter and laughing at them is a cruel thing to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

• parody
• mock
• do
• mimic
• spoof
• emulate
• caricature
• simulate
• send up
• reproduce
• perform
• play
• burlesque
• pretend
• ridicule
• replicate
• satirize
• deride
• travesty
• lampoon
• enhance
• duplicate
• personate
• act
• parrot
• ape
• exaggerate
• feign
• gibe
• jibe
• embellish
• elaborate
• monkey
• dissemble
• counterfeit
• fake
• stretch
• amplify
• embroider
• impersonate
• copycat
• overstate
• mime
• magnify
• expand
• pad
• play up
• sham
• flesh (out)
• pasquinade
• enlarge (on or upon)
• put on
• pantomime
• overdraw

3

as in to reproduce

to make an exact likeness of

a second-rate artist who was notorious for imitating the works of other painters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reproduce
• replicate
• copy
• render
• duplicate
• clone
• reconstruct
• simulate
• copycat
• mimic
• reduplicate
• forge
• counterfeit
• fake
• rip off
• re-create
• knock off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• create
• originate
• imagine
• initiate
• invent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word imitate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imitate are ape, copy, mimic, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When is ape a more appropriate choice than imitate?

The words ape and imitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

Where would copy be a reasonable alternative to imitate?

The synonyms copy and imitate are sometimes interchangeable, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

When is it sensible to use mimic instead of imitate?

The words mimic and imitate can be used in similar contexts, but mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

When could mock be used to replace imitate?

The meanings of mock and imitate largely overlap; however, mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of imitate

Some will welcome it; there is certainly an argument that the attempts to imitate Guardiola’s style, playing from the back against high-class opponents with a plan to press them into mistakes, led to some coaches leading their teams like lambs to the slaughter. —Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

In an instance of art imitating life, the film's soundtrack also achieved great success as the highest-debuting soundtrack of 2025 on the Billboard 200. —Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025

One look at the Unitree Robotics YouTube channel tells you how the company is focused on training the G1 humanoid to perform actions and imitate humans. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025

Now almost two, Arthur has been imitating his mother’s movements. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025