imitation 1 of 2

noun

ˌi-mə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce imitation (audio)
Definition of imitationnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imitation
Noun
Told that imitation is the highest form of flattery, Steele guffaws. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 The Catholics in his government, from Supreme Court justices to Cabinet members to Vice President JD Vance, are acting as a rubber stamp for an imperious ruler, instead of imitations of Christ. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The noise is loud, the imitation is everywhere and the hype shows no signs of clearing. — Juan Carlos Santiago, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Mitchell’s own imitation of Spielbergian life, despite its meticulous re-creation (and gleeful destruction) of eighties suburbia, stumbles into an uncanny valley between sincerity and cynicism, between unintentional comedy and deliberate homage. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitation
  1. reproduction
  2. faux
  3. copy
  4. synthetic
  5. replica
  6. simulated
  7. fake
  8. artificial
Noun
  • The exhibition is mostly screens, projections and reproductions, with a handful of great works from the 16th and 17th centuries and feels superficial at times.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • These reproductions are surprisingly effective, partly because the tapestry was made by many hands to begin with, and free embroidery is not an art of finesse.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of reproduction
Adjective
  • Throughout, the reader is bludgeoned with reminders of the war’s significance, and in the service of this aim Harding also offers a curious mixture of political awareness and faux naïveté.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Think raised geometric shapes, faux brick panels, wood-look slats or stone wall panels.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of faux
Noun
  • The subpoena sought hard drives, videos, forensic images, and other records related to the review by Cyber Ninjas, according to a copy obtained by Votebeat.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the paper was circulated across the company’s dealership network, with many dealers putting a copy of the Independent in the glove box of every new car.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of copy
Adjective
  • Recycled polyester remains a synthetic material and does not eliminate concerns surrounding microfiber shedding, recyclability or dependence on plastic feedstocks.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But even alkaline garden soil may become acidic over time as a result of environmental factors, such as acid rain, or the overuse of synthetic fertilizers and other soil amendments.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Noun
  • Just then, the strains of a familiar song wafted across the store, and Valencia and Zegarra followed it, past a Lightning McQueen replica, to a tiny area where a half-dozen child-size chairs were arranged before a screen.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Accompanied by some technology — radars, satellite phones and whatnot — and a volleyball replica of Wilson from Castaway, Tez spent weeks in the Pacific with pods of dolphins, friendly seagulls and his own thoughts.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of replica
Adjective
  • This involved competing in simulated games of capture the flag held inside complex, three-dimensional virtual worlds.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Her massive concrete site-work, which takes up the entirety of the Geffen Galleries plaza, is peppered with fragmentary representations of the Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl and the simulated footprints of Californian fauna.
    — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • Once roles are introduced to the game, the players make a comedy meal out of loudly fake narrating what Sam is doing while they’re blindfolded.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Those who speak a password, released via social media, receive a fake business card, which does mean many a guest is standing there shouting a password at the actor.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • All of those companies have been massive winners for investors this year, with HPE and AMD more than doubling in value and Intel almost tripling, as the artificial infrastructure buildout expands to companies beyond Nvidia.
    — Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • These could be something as natural as gravity pulling the fluid downwards, or an artificial intervention like a propeller.
    — Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of artificial

Browse Nearby Words

imitating
imitation
imitations
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Cite this Entry

“Imitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitation. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on imitation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about imitation

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