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 undulating roofline imitates the Allegheny Mountains, and 38 steel columns create a canopy reminiscent of the region's forests, Prix Versailles says.
—
Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 15 June 2026
My mother imitates me, then converts the word into a pair of Korean syllables that sound most like the German.
—Esther Yi, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
But neither painting nor photography imitates nature.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
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
Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 15 June 2026
My mother imitates me, then converts the word into a pair of Korean syllables that sound most like the German.
—Esther Yi, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
But neither painting nor photography imitates nature.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitates
Verb
-
Like many performance EVs attempting to address the absence of combustion-engine noise, Genesis has also developed a bespoke electric Active Sound Design system to create a soundtrack that emulates an ICE vehicle.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Virgin with Codex emulates the original painting’s translucent hair.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
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 smart glasses come equipped with a proprietary liquid-crystal-on-silicon display that reproduces 16 million colors and offers a 51° field of view.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Once a specific constraint is imposed, the mathematical model reproduces the exact behavior of the original nonreciprocal flock.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The technology copies tone, speech patterns, and accents closely enough that many people can't tell the difference between a real voice and a fake one.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
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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
Verb
-
Scary Movie parodies Ma alongside Michael, Weapons alongside Wicked.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Zachary Stevenson’s performance replicates the nerdy-yet-hip Texan through impressive guitar licks and superb vocals that are equally comfortable with sweet ballads and on-the-edge rockabilly songs.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
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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
Verb
-
This neighborhood plan mimics ones used to eradicate the insects on islands.—
Maggie Penman,
Washington Post,
14 June 2026
-
Ozempic mimics a natural hormone called GLP-1, which slows how fast food leaves your stomach.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Cohesion is the trick, and color does most of the work.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
Nor does a forecast cone capture every place that may experience dangerous conditions.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitates. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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