1
as in followers
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 performers
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imitators
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
The popularity of products like Meta Ray-Bans has opened up a new market of imitators who are in an arms race to make their smart glasses as ethically dubious as possible, perhaps with a little help from AI or facial recognition software.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Jan. 2026
Although Rudolph’s concrete architecture was more complex and soulful than that of many of his imitators, that difference was often overlooked.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 13 Jan. 2026
The film introduced new slang into the lexicon, repopularized surf rock, and spawned dozens of fast-talking imitators.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite many aspirants and imitators, there really hasn’t been anything like it since.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
As some of his peers embrace generative artificial intelligence with their own likeness, Morgan Freeman is putting his imitators on notice.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025
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
The popularity of products like Meta Ray-Bans has opened up a new market of imitators who are in an arms race to make their smart glasses as ethically dubious as possible, perhaps with a little help from AI or facial recognition software.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Jan. 2026
Although Rudolph’s concrete architecture was more complex and soulful than that of many of his imitators, that difference was often overlooked.
—Anthony Paletta, Curbed, 13 Jan. 2026
The film introduced new slang into the lexicon, repopularized surf rock, and spawned dozens of fast-talking imitators.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite many aspirants and imitators, there really hasn’t been anything like it since.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
As some of his peers embrace generative artificial intelligence with their own likeness, Morgan Freeman is putting his imitators on notice.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitators
Noun
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Named after the 19th-Century Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston, the cat quickly garnered a large online fanbase, boasting nearly 100,000 followers as of Tuesday who closely tracked his adventures across Westminster.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Overnight sensations usually gain followers.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Alaska, Hawaiian are consistent performers The AQR also singled out Alaska Airlines as the steadiest performer in the industry.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These kinds of echoes were all over the two shows.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
That quotation alludes to the many Proustian echoes in Bowen’s story set in an aristocratic Big House during the 1919-21 War of Independence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Prior to showing the video, Zamani read out a list of musicians, artists, filmmakers and actors confirmed as having been killed in the crackdown as well as another half dozen arts and culture professionals who have been detained, requesting that that the audience applaud each of the names.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
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The episode includes highlights from the screening and panel that brought together the six actors and singers — EJAE, Ji-young Yoo, Audrey Nuna, Arden Cho, May Hong and Rei Ami — for the first time to discuss how the Netflix-Sony Pictures hit has touched their hearts and changed their careers.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes wrestlers have even portrayed real political figures, as when impersonators of then-Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton squared off during the 2008 presidential campaign.—
Michael Ballaban,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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There are biblical storms, creepy family members, Dolly Parton impersonators, a motel clerk named Norman, a hearty side plot involving a suffragist hit squad, and multiple houses on fire.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imitators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitators. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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