MIMIC Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'mimic' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mimic are ape , copy , imitate , and mock . While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation. // pupils mimicking their teacher

Q: Where would 'ape' be a reasonable alternative to 'mimic'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mimic , ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original. // American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

Q: When would 'copy' be a good substitute for 'mimic'?

The words copy and mimic can be used in similar contexts, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible. // copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Q: When could 'imitate' be used to replace 'mimic'?

The meanings of imitate and mimic largely overlap; however, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation. // imitate a poet's style

Q: In what contexts can 'mock' take the place of 'mimic'?

In some situations, the words mock and mimic are roughly equivalent. However, mock usually implies imitation with derision. // mocking a vain man's pompous manner

mimic 1 of 3

verb

Definition of mimic

as in to imitate

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of the comedian was famous for mimicking the President's distinctive lisp

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to emulate

to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior began to learn their language by mimicking the sounds they made

Synonyms & Similar Words

mimic

2 of 3

adjective

as in simulated

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials police were concerned that the mimic gun, although intended only as a toy, might be confused with the real thing in certain situations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in imitative

using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model a mimic battle fought by kids playing around in the schoolyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mimic

3 of 3

noun

ˈmi-mik

as in imitator

a person who imitates another's voice and mannerisms for comic effect a gifted mimic who can do a terrific imitation of anyone's voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in mime

an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements a mimic in black clothes and white facial makeup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mimic distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mimic are ape, copy, imitate, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

Where would ape be a reasonable alternative to mimic?

While in some cases nearly identical to mimic, ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When would copy be a good substitute for mimic?

The words copy and mimic can be used in similar contexts, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

When could imitate be used to replace mimic?

The meanings of imitate and mimic largely overlap; however, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

In what contexts can mock take the place of mimic?

In some situations, the words mock and mimic are roughly equivalent. However, mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

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 mimic

Verb

Actual criminals would, in turn, mimic the styles of fantasy gangsters in the movies. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Eloralintide is an experimental drug that mimics the effects of the hormone amylin. — Mike McRae 09, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026

Noun

In design reviews, require product owners to specify which consumer or internal patterns the new workflow mimics; adjust UI labels and steps to match those mental models. — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 This suggests the sounds green noise mimics may genuinely help the body shift toward relaxation. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mimic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mimic

Verb

The museum brought a tremendous wow factor that cities around the world were soon clamoring to imitate.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
OpenAI denied intentionally imitating Johansson’s voice and later withdrew the feature.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of imitate

Verb

Introduced by American occupation forces after World War II, jeans found a market among young Japanese eager to emulate Hollywood stars.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Billboard chatted with October’s Hip-Hop Up & Comer, Noodah 05, about the origins of his name, why old-school R&B always has him in a chokehold, his desire to emulate André 3000, and his aspirations to become the new-age Thanos of rap.

— Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of emulate

Adjective

Prosecutors say he was beaten, suspended by his hands and feet and subjected to simulated drowning during two days of interrogation.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
After many attempts of trial and error in a simulated environment, MonoRace figured out the best ways to quickly solve navigation problems and then apply that in the real world.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of simulated

Adjective

Using techniques like input-dependent computation and gating, the liquid AI design gives us substantially greater power to access the human-like cognition, albeit imitative, of the machines.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention.

— Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025

Definition of imitative

Noun

Deafheaven broke the mold by introducing blinding light to rock music’s darkest corner, but after wave upon wave of imitators, the only subversion left is to blot out the sun.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
The Dadaists used this gleefully and compulsively (see René Clair and Francis Picabia’s wacky Entr’Acte); so, famously, did Hideo Nakata in Y2K hit The Ring and countless imitators.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of imitator

Noun

Lyons uses her extraordinary physicality — slipping between a range of accents, mime, and endless amount of gestures to hold together a piece that could easily fall apart.

— Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
The idea is that as an operator mimes picking up a pile of rocks, the arm would generate a force in response, as if the operator could feel the heaviness of the rocks, confirming that the excavator is indeed picking them up.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of mime

Verb

The couple was so famous that they were often parodied by TV comedians for their lavish lifestyle and Tammy Faye’s abundant makeup.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
The couple was so famous that they were often parodied by TV comedians for their lavish lifestyle and Tammy Faye's abundant makeup.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of parody

Verb

Someone else copies them for free and undercuts their pricing before the training run has even paid back.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Over the past few years, a consistent complaint from Western developers and the White House has been that Chinese developers have copied their tech.

— Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of copy

Browse Nearby Words

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mimic

mimicked

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Mimic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mimic. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mimic

verb

adjective

noun

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