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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imitator
Top off fall fits with cozy scarves—think last year’s iconic Acne Studio scarf (and its many imitators) that is still going strong.
—
Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The LLMs behind generative agents and chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are certainly expert imitators.
—Webb Wright, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2025
Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the original crypto hoarder that’s inspired a flood of imitators, has amassed more than $72 billion worth of Bitcoin.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Baxter stepped down in 1988, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped British children’s television and inspired countless imitators — none of which matched the original’s cultural impact.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, imitators of Allbirds’ natural-fiber shoes proliferated, and the compelling brand story that was such at hit at first was in jeopardy.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2025
Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The LLMs behind generative agents and chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are certainly expert imitators.
—Webb Wright, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2025
Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the original crypto hoarder that’s inspired a flood of imitators, has amassed more than $72 billion worth of Bitcoin.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Baxter stepped down in 1988, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped British children’s television and inspired countless imitators — none of which matched the original’s cultural impact.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, imitators of Allbirds’ natural-fiber shoes proliferated, and the compelling brand story that was such at hit at first was in jeopardy.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitator
Noun
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Tate has amassed more than 10 million followers on X and hundreds of thousands more on other platforms like Telegram and Truth Social.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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To emphasize the sad state of affairs, Ilett updated his followers on another bad hair day from inside a running shower, his matted locks drooping to his cheekbones.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Between December and February, Spence was Tottenham’s most reliable performer.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Hers is a supporting but impactful role, with Straus navigating the weight of portraying the daughter of a recovering alcoholic and aspiring performer.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For many people, Stewart included, conjure’s echoes ring loudest in the kitchen.—
Danielle Amir Jackson,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
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The Resale Impact of All Those Designer Moves While luxury brands have sought to juice up their businesses with designer changes all over the place, there was an echo effect on The RealReal, where searches for on-the-move design stars skyrocketed.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio providing a cheeky voiceover, the short film reimagines the user manual as a tongue-in-cheek guide to effortless espresso making.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Morissette was the creative brains of the organization; Silverman was the lead actor.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And hashtags like #dangerousselfie and #extremeselfie encourage copycat behavior.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Survivor’s debut in 2000 marked a turning point in reality television innovation; afterward, many copycats spawned, inspired by the complexity of the gameplay.—
Hannah Berman
August 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The funniest part about that is Lisa Ann Walter is actually a really exceptional impressionist.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
16 Apr. 2025
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The comedian and impressionist who has done his impressions to the faces of Michael Buble, Jeff Goldblum, Paul Giamatti and more will be at American Comedy Co. 8 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The capital of Texas, Austin is a bustling metropolis that attracts everyone from tech giants to wannabe Willie Nelsons.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Aug. 2025
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The precious journalists could strive for their Pulitzers, and the wannabe Ari Golds could have their Hollywood deals.—
Eric Benson,
Rolling Stone,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Nightclub says impersonator carried out 'elaborate' dupe Wynn Las Vegas said in a statement to USA TODAY that the impersonator duped the club's staff.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
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Pay extra and you can be married by a female Elvis impersonator or enjoy a burlesque performance after your ceremony.—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitator. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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