1
as in follower
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way
an Elvis imitator in a sequinned jumpsuit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in performer
a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect
that comedian is a hilarious imitator of a surprising array of current celebrities
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Recent Examples of imitator
This cheesecake imitator is delicious topped with fresh strawberries, but other fruits can be substituted, such as pineapple or peaches.
—
Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Swimbaits, stick baits, creature baits, crawfish imitators, and big ribbontail worms will all catch fish on a Texas rig.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Though Cox has a small role and Panettiere returns, the lack of legacy characters makes this feel like a cheap imitator at times.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
For decades, Gallup’s company and its imitators improved their techniques.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Along the way, the festival has outlasted many imitators and weathered shifting food trends by staying nimble.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The imitators are increasingly convincing, especially as AI image and video generators get better by the day.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
That's the beloved appetizer consisting of six yellow peppers stuffed with shrimp that family matriarch Carmen Murguia brought to California from the border town of Mexicali, creating what may be the area’s most popular Mexican dish and inspiring countless imitators.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Michtom didn’t bother to patent his invention; the imitators merely spurred interest.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Swimbaits, stick baits, creature baits, crawfish imitators, and big ribbontail worms will all catch fish on a Texas rig.
—Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Though Cox has a small role and Panettiere returns, the lack of legacy characters makes this feel like a cheap imitator at times.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
For decades, Gallup’s company and its imitators improved their techniques.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Along the way, the festival has outlasted many imitators and weathered shifting food trends by staying nimble.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The imitators are increasingly convincing, especially as AI image and video generators get better by the day.
—John Whyte, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
That's the beloved appetizer consisting of six yellow peppers stuffed with shrimp that family matriarch Carmen Murguia brought to California from the border town of Mexicali, creating what may be the area’s most popular Mexican dish and inspiring countless imitators.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Michtom didn’t bother to patent his invention; the imitators merely spurred interest.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitator
Noun
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But the administration is ratcheting up its attacks on the very environmental protections that MAHA followers hold dear.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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They are also filled with apocalyptic premonitions that make sense only in a first-century context, when Jesus was credibly thought by his followers to soon be on his way back home, ready to take believers up to Heaven, or the moon, with him.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But that mood turns out to be a surprisingly strong fit for the performer at the center of director Pete Ohs’ story of personal dilemmas and natural disasters.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
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As teased in the opening of the first episode, Margo’s one-of-a-kind perspective comes from both of her parents’ performer personas.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After years working at Aman resorts across India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, Anand brings echoes of the brand’s ethos to his very own hotel.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
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The echo lingers, dissolving into an infinite void.—
Babak Rahimi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In addition to True Blood, the actor has appeared in projects like The Fault in Our Stars (2014), This Is Us and Homeland.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
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There always has been, and still is, a healthy amount of improvisation built into the musical’s book, which keeps both audience and actors on their toes.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Upstairs, impressionists, writers, socialites, and painters who moved in Proust’s orbit, from Sarah Bernhardt to Emile Zola and Claude Monet, lent their names to a room or suite.—
Lindsey Tramuta,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2026
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The awards show is set for March 31, with stand-up comedian, actor and impressionist Matt Friend as host.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Over the course of a single day, visitors can eat brunch with a TR impersonator, shop for a teddy bear (first inspired by TR), hike in the TR national park, and view a cardboard model of the upcoming TR presidential library, scheduled to open this July 4.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
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DiMare now lives in North Kingstown with her dog and husband, professional Frank Sinatra impersonator Rich DiMare.—
Catherine Messier,
The Providence Journal,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The tragedy came after the entertainer had been privately dealing with an opioid addiction.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
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The 80-year-old entertainer was slated to appear at the Sydney Goldstein Theater on Thursday, April 9, for a conversation with singer and pianist Michael Feinstein as part of the City Arts & Lectures series.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The sounds green noise mimics do have some research behind them, though.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
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Her jokester father worked for a railway; her realtor mother was a gifted mimic whose impressions of clients enlivened family dinners.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitator. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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