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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitates
Verb
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Revolve is all about polished wardrobe essentials, and this two-piece set emulates the online retailer’s signature style.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
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Following film was a full run on the team’s NBA floor rather than the practice facility, which better emulates a game feel.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But her desperation seems exposed at Cupertino, too, where Little Tim mocks her for her dim suggestion that psychotherapists be deployed to the company’s Guangzhou factory to cool down a labor crisis.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
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While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggi, and their first test subject, adult-film star Angel Dust, stick by her side.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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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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
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Every time the virus copies itself inside a cell, its genetic material mutates.—
Kyle B. Enfield,
The Conversation,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Lerner gets plentiful mileage out of his novel’s title, which also connotes the transmission of culture (thought or speech to writing, sound to vinyl) or part of the process whereby DNA replicates.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Researchers at the University of Bristol have created a network of simple mechanical motors that replicates how human muscles respond to increasing load.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Clustering containers in a way that utilizes varying plant types and heights in a way that mimics the verticality of natural habits isn’t strictly about aesthetics.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
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Choose a shade that mimics your natural lip tone but sits one degree deeper, and reach for a formula buttery enough to blend smoothly into skin.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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California does a good job verifying its voter rolls, but there’s no harm in requiring an ID provided the requirements don’t create excessive hurdles for those who may not have a driver’s license.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
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Aub says that in general, curly hair does best with gentle, hydrating formulas that can both cleanse the scalp without sacrificing the integrity of the curl pattern.—
Aimee Simeon,
Glamour,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitates. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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