Synonyms of imitation

imitation 1 of 2

noun

ˌi-mə-ˈtā-shən 

as in reproduction

something that is made to look exactly like something else

challenged me to tell the real roses from the silk imitations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reproduction
• copy
• replica
• version
• clone
• duplicate
• replication
• mock
• facsimile
• dupe
• duplication
• carbon
• reduplication
• carbon copy
• dummy
• simulation
• reconstruction
• counterfeit
• miniature
• forgery
• fake
• knockoff
• rubber stamp
• rip-off
• approximation
• impression
• likeness
• print
• sham
• re-creation
• image
• semblance
• reincarnation
• phony
• mock-up
• spare
• imprint
• extra
• shadow
• reserve

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prototype
• original
• archetype

imitation

2 of 2

adjective

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials

the stage production uses only imitation diamonds, as real gems would be prohibitively expensive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faux
• synthetic
• simulated
• fake
• artificial
• imitative
• dummy
• false
• mock
• mimic
• substitute
• ersatz
• manufactured
• counterfeit
• factitious
• pretend
• designer
• bogus
• sham
• process
• man-made
• deceptive
• cultured
• unauthentic
• engineered
• manipulated
• fabricated
• forged
• pseudo
• adulterated
• misleading
• fraudulent
• concocted
• phony
• feigned
• doctored
• spurious
• pinchbeck
• affected
• tampered (with)
• fudged
• juggled
• brummagem

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• real
• natural
• genuine
• true
• authentic
• legitimate
• bona fide
• valuable
• quality
• pure
• premium
• unadulterated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of imitation

Noun

Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and reveled afterward in flashing his imitation Liberty Bell bling, the champions chain presented by Ryan Howard. — Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

The new stories being told in this film mostly feel like a cheap imitation, or complete betrayal of the source material that made so many of these characters worth investing in. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026

The platform includes software interfaces and development tools for vision-language-action (VLA) models, reinforcement learning and imitation learning, allowing developers to move AI algorithms from virtual environments to real-world hardware. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

His peers of the mid-19th century were outrunning their critics and the old strictures of colonial imitation. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026