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
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
What makes the campaign especially convincing is that each stage imitates familiar Apple, Google or Microsoft software behavior many Mac users already trust and routinely encounter.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The pieces are all made from fade- and weather-resistant poly material, which even imitates the look of wood grain for a more stylish finish.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2026
Aristotle said that art imitates nature (ars imitatur naturam), and for centuries, many artists sought to imitate their subjects as realistically as possible.
—Andrey Mir, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Whether or not life imitates art remains to be seen.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
Patagonia’s proprietary synthetic fill imitates down’s structure by spinning air-trapping microfilaments around a central fiber and requires fewer stabilizing seams and baffles than down.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
And, because life sometimes imitates art, Williams and Storrie are heading to the Olympics.
—Anna Zucca, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
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
What makes the campaign especially convincing is that each stage imitates familiar Apple, Google or Microsoft software behavior many Mac users already trust and routinely encounter.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The pieces are all made from fade- and weather-resistant poly material, which even imitates the look of wood grain for a more stylish finish.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2026
Aristotle said that art imitates nature (ars imitatur naturam), and for centuries, many artists sought to imitate their subjects as realistically as possible.
—Andrey Mir, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Whether or not life imitates art remains to be seen.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
Patagonia’s proprietary synthetic fill imitates down’s structure by spinning air-trapping microfilaments around a central fiber and requires fewer stabilizing seams and baffles than down.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
And, because life sometimes imitates art, Williams and Storrie are heading to the Olympics.
—Anna Zucca, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitates
Verb
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Virgin with Codex emulates the original painting’s translucent hair.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
20 May 2026
-
The experience emulates the strategy, physical competition and even starvation sometimes.—
Charlotte Walsh,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The group openly mocks Jesus Christ and many Christian and Catholic traditions.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is demanding all copies of Unethical Hoops, a new Operation-style board game that mocks his foul-drawing reputation, be destroyed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 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
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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
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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
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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
-
Ben Hania’s film before that, 2020’s Oscar-nominated The Man Who Sold His Skin, parodies the art world’s fetishization of refugees.—
Alexander Durie,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
-
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
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
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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
Verb
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Croslite is a closed-cell resin that mimics the properties of foam and rubber.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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The gondola mimics the sensation of floating above the ground while delivering a smoother, faster, and more immersive ride.—
Carly Caramanna,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Rebecca Makkai’s 2018 historical fiction novel The Great Believers, certainly comes to mind, as does Hanya Yanagihara’s 2023 novel To Paradise.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Her multi-club network carries a lot of clout, as does her wealth.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitates. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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