mime 1 of 2

1
as in performer
an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements that annoying mime on the sidewalk is pretending to be in an invisible box again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in gesture
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling the speech-impaired patient had to convey his wishes with mime or scribbled notes

Synonyms & Similar Words

mime

2 of 2

verb

as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior as a joke, Eric knelt by the dinner table and began miming a dog begging for food

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 mime
Noun
Movement coordinator Polly Bennett helped craft each actor’s pose, but the fact that they were stopped halfway through a gesture put a strain on even the highest-caliber mime. Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025 Back in Colombia in the 1990s, then-mayor Antanas Mockus replaced 1,800 traffic cops with just 20 mimes, who used silent performance to mock reckless drivers and praise good behavior. Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 7 May 2025
Verb
In Skillman’s play, directed by Jessi D. Hill and starring Megan Hill, a woman enters with the accoutrement of close-up magic, in top hat and tails, and then proceeds to perform illusions by description and miming alone. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 July 2025 Keeping things light, Springfield then mimed getting up to leave before sitting back with a smile. Shania Russell, EW.com, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for mime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mime
Noun
  • 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
  • Liang, kneeling before me, made a praying gesture and rubbed his hands together to warm them.
    Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The gesture might boost public support for the tax.
    Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps, but no machine can imitate my imagination or the memories that pour through me, or feel the fear of extinguishment.
    Adam Verner September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes art imitates life by skipping a generation.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One stuntman on New Amsterdam was directed to pantomime with me but refused.
    Jon Hart, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
  • It must be said, however, that the performance sensibility is somewhere between English pantomime and a Nickelodeon sitcom.
    Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Then copy and paste the selection into a text file, note or email.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
  • But Sally remembers her uncanny skill at copying other artists’ work, down to the finest details.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The sheriff threatens to arrest Morticia on account of aiding and abetting a murderer, but Gomez points out that these clowns (the cops) abandoned Nevermore to protect Normies at Pilgrim World.
    Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
  • While the film wasn't a hit with critics or audiences, Gaga nonetheless had some eye-popping looks on the press tour, sporting bold red hair and clown-like attire to evoke the comic chaos of her character.
    EW.com, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • With its left hand outstretched, the robot used it to maintain balance while accurately playing shots, emulating human beings.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Thoughtful details went into the design, such as a grand entrance with a narrowing tunnel that emulates the dramatic walk into a world-class stadium.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Additionally, many products are marketed to mimic popular snacks and candies, leading to accidental ingestion by consumers and children.
    A.J. Herrington, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Rather, the bots are skilled at mimicking human reactions to stressful situations, responding to users in ways that often reflect racist and sexist biases.
    Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mime. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mime

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!