Synonyms for imitate
verb
To follow the example of
emulate, follow suit, do likewise, take as a model; see follow 2.
To act like
mimic, impersonate, mirror, copy, mime, ape, parrot, parody, mock, simulate, duplicate, assume, repeat, echo, reecho, reflect, pretend, play a part, personate, do like*, make like*, take off*, put on*; see also parody.
To copy
duplicate, counterfeit, fake; see copy 2, reproduce 1.
To resemble
look like, be like, simulate, parallel; see resemble.
imitate implies the following of something as an example or model but does not necessarily connote exact correspondence with the original the child imitates her father's mannerisms; copy implies as nearly exact imitation or reproduction as is possible to copy a painting; mimic suggests close imitation, often in fun or ridicule to mimic the speech peculiarities of another; mock implies imitation with the intent to deride or affront he mocked the teacher's gesture of rebuke; ape implies close imitation either in mimicry or in servile emulation she aped the fashions of the court ladies
See imitate in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms
imitate copy mimic ape parody simulate
These verbs mean to follow something or someone taken as a model. To imitate is to act like or follow a pattern or style set by another: “Art imitates Nature” (Richard Franck).
To copy is to duplicate an original as precisely as possible: “His grandfather had spent a laborious life-time in Rome, copying the Old Masters for a generation which lacked the facile resource of the camera” (Edith Wharton).
To mimic is to make a close imitation, often with an intent to ridicule: “fresh carved cedar, mimicking a glade/Of palm and plaintain” (John Keats).
To ape is to follow another's lead slavishly but often with an absurd result: “Those [superior] states of mind do not come from aping an alien culture” (John Russell).
To parody is either to imitate with comic effect or to attempt a serious imitation and fail: “All these peculiarities [of Samuel Johnson's literary style] have been imitated by his admirers and parodied by his assailants” (Thomas Macaulay).
To simulate is to feign or falsely assume the appearance or character of something: “I … lay there simulating death” (W.H. Hudson).
See imitate in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To take as a model or make conform to a model:
copy, emulate, follow, model (on, upon, or after), pattern (on, upon, or after). Idioms: follow in the footsteps of, follow suit, follow the example of. See sameTo copy (the manner or expression of another), especially in an exaggerated or mocking way:
ape, burlesque, caricature, mimic, mock, parody, travesty. Idiom: do a takeoff on. See sameTo copy (another) slavishly:
echo, image, mimic, mirror, parrot, reflect, repeat. See sameTo make a copy of:
copy, duplicate, replicate, reproduce, simulate. See same
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