mimes 1 of 2

Definition of mimesnext
plural of mime
1
as in performers
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

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2
as in gestures
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

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mimes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mime
as in imitates
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

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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 mimes
Noun
Rae’s setup was meticulous, maximalist, and totally unified—the boa made of hundred-dollar bills, the backup dancers who looked vaguely like mimes, the scaffolding that suggested Moulin Rouge! Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026 From ringmasters and lions to clowns and mimes, everyone went all out with their party attire. Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026 Expertise in using one’s body (think dancers or mimes). Big Think, 6 Apr. 2026 Instead, someone hands me a wooden pole with a piece of foam taped around one end and mimes poking the machine in its chest. James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mimes
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
  • His few lines of dialogue have a power that far exceeds their word count, but what speaks for Jeremy most of the time are his physical gestures, which blend blank detachment with willful ferocity.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • There is also a thoughtful kind of affection in the air that is less about grand gestures and more about shared understanding.
    Georgia Nichols, Dallas Morning News, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Aristotle said that art imitates nature (ars imitatur naturam), and for centuries, many artists sought to imitate their subjects as realistically as possible.
    Andrey Mir, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Whether or not life imitates art remains to be seen.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Talkative characters like the froggish Mallow and even Bowser himself are motor-mouthed and sarcastic, nigglingly mocking Mario for his inability to speak in anything other than nods and pantomimes.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Disney then filmed Kerry's movements, reactions, and pantomimes, complete with props but without any dialogue to work with, over the course of nine months.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • On a party count, that is 4-3 for the Dems and the one-for-you, one-for-me bipartisan staffing copies the Board of Elections.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Every time the virus copies itself inside a cell, its genetic material mutates.
    Kyle B. Enfield, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the film has been described as a four-quadrant coming-of-age comedy set in the world of funny and evil clowns.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Following film was a full run on the team’s NBA floor rather than the practice facility, which better emulates a game feel.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, the site recommends a homemade mixture consisting of four parts water to one part sugar, which emulates the amount of sugar naturally found in nectar.
    Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Like a medieval castle, where lords slept, blacksmiths pounded, soldiers trained, mummers mummed, and farmers sold their produce, the 21st century armory will be a mixed-use project in the truest sense.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026

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“Mimes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mimes. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

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