1
as in emulates
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
Relevance
2
as in mocks
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
3
as in reproduces
to make an exact likeness of
a second-rate artist who was notorious for imitating the works of other painters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imitates
And, because life sometimes imitates art, Williams and Storrie are heading to the Olympics.
—
Anna Zucca, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
The layered neckline, with the bust peeking out from behind, imitates this season's hottest red carpet trend, the semi-visible bra.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 12 Jan. 2026
Its light imitates an actual sunrise, gradually going from red to bright white.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2026
The style imitates that of many social media influencers, who seek to keep their content dynamic.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Louvre robbery Heists are usually seen only in films, but sometimes, life imitates art.
—Will Barker, TheWeek, 30 Dec. 2025
The project starts to unravel when life imitates art and a real anaconda begins hunting them down.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025
Art imitates life for the Levy family.
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
As art imitates life, Simon will eventually get superpowers himself.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Anna Zucca, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
The layered neckline, with the bust peeking out from behind, imitates this season's hottest red carpet trend, the semi-visible bra.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 12 Jan. 2026
Its light imitates an actual sunrise, gradually going from red to bright white.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2026
The style imitates that of many social media influencers, who seek to keep their content dynamic.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Louvre robbery Heists are usually seen only in films, but sometimes, life imitates art.
—Will Barker, TheWeek, 30 Dec. 2025
The project starts to unravel when life imitates art and a real anaconda begins hunting them down.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025
Art imitates life for the Levy family.
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
As art imitates life, Simon will eventually get superpowers himself.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitates
Verb
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This rustic buffet cabinet from The Pioneer Woman’s Walmart collection emulates this traditional furniture piece with a few modernized updates.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
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Everything from the stunning lighting design (courtesy of Justin Townsend) to Groff's crooning vocals emulates a '50s night club.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Chelsea Handler honors Rob Reiner, mocks DiCaprio's 'Titanic' vacationNeed a news break?—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
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There, Callahan mocks him, saying that killing him won't assuage Mike of his guilt.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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One ecosystem reproduces itself through procedure; the other through attention.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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EagleMania not just reproduces the music of the famous rock band with their five-part harmony and guitar work but captures their distinct sound.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite initial skepticism, the 1994 tournament drew record crowds and $50 million surplus, spurring MLS’s creation and innovations FIFA now copies worldwide.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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Just look at Apple’s new product line that copies everything from the previous one, except the thickness.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile, adopting a combative style that parodies Trump’s social media strategy with similar all-caps posts, memes and merchandise.—
Adriana Gomez Licon,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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In another nod to Scream, Cheri Oteri parodies Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers as the comically unethical news anchor Gail Hailstorm.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The platform replicates acceleration, braking, pitching, and cornering precisely.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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Its on-site Emirates hospitality suite replicates the interior of an A380 and serves some of the best cocktails at the tournament.—
Paula Conway,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Designed for spinal and orthopedic procedures, Dynamis features a multi-arm architecture that mimics human bimanual workflows, allowing surgeons to position instruments with sub-millimeter accuracy.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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The brand also offers its own line of long-lasting polish that, when paired with its Magic Finish Top Coat, mimics the appearance and wearability of gel polish without having to use a UV lamp.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While not every product in the brand’s SOS collection includes hypochlorous acid (an excellent anti-acneic ingredient), the serum does.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
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When an older condo building sits on valuable land in a desirable neighborhood, like Biscayne 21 does, developers often see it as an opportunity to tear down the old and replace it with a newer, more profitable luxury condo building.—
Catherine Odom
January 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitates. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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