imitator

Definition of imitatornext
1
as in follower
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way an Elvis imitator in a sequinned jumpsuit

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2
as in performer
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

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 imitator Over the past year, a wave of imitators loaded public-company balance sheets with cryptocurrencies in hopes of sparking stock rallies, but that trade has since soured. Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Unfortunately, Winger committed the mortal sins of having a pretty boy lead singer and painfully cheesy videos (even by 80s standards), so most people dismissed them and Beach as cheap imitators. Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Boards can adopt it, investors can ask for it, cities can condition incentives on it, and the companies with the best results have the most to gain from standards, because standards are how leaders get distinguished from imitators. Tonya M. Evans, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 That's the real test that will ultimately determine whether the Denza Z is a genuine rival or simply another very fast imitator. New Atlas, 25 July 2026 But the arrival of Buc-ee's supercharged the trend and spawned imitators like Wally's, which has three 50,000-square-foot locations in the Midwest, with plans for more. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Steven Spielberg's dino masterpiece — which has spawned six sequels and countless imitators — ushered in a new wave of CGI filmmaking and became an instant sensation beyond what original author Michael Crichton could ever have envisioned. Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 Their clothes inspired imitators. Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Three Things That Define the Category Understanding what distinguishes a genuine moonshot company matters more now that the category has attracted imitators — organizations that have adopted the language of transformation without the underlying architecture. Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitator
Noun
  • Beliefs and practices Modern Druidry is an open and eclectic religion, allowing for considerable variation in the beliefs and practices of its followers.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The wording led some of Hank’s followers to accuse him of using ChatGPT.
    Matt Carlstrom, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Many in Hollywood and beyond were left stunned by news of the passing of multifaceted performer Hayden Panettiere at age 36, as reported Sunday night.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
  • This time, renowned singer and performer Natalie Amaya will join this Northern California tribute band on stage.
    Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Taub takes a broader view, seeing echoes of the conflicts that ignited the Revolution in the tensions of today.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Her dilemma was filled with echoes from her childhood in the foothills of the Himalayas.
    Sarah Whitmire, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The force has since supported several non-state actors in the Middle East, from Hamas in Gaza to the Houthis in Yemen and even the Taliban in Afghanistan during the 1990s.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Past actors who have portrayed Harvey Dent/Two-Face are Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight, Nicholas D’Agosto in Gotham and Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The black and white photographs work especially well hung just a wall away from the Impressionists, many of who also work in black and white and concentrate on the slightest shadows.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2026
  • My first visit was in 1995 for a retrospective of 19th century Impressionist painter Gustave Caillebotte.
    David Allen, Daily News, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • On a typical day this July, around four Roosevelt impersonators were roaming the streets, identifiable by their mustaches, stout bellies, and dispensing of homespun wisdom.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Topline An impersonator pretending to be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles exchanged messages with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, according to multiple reports, the latest incident of someone posing as Wiles contacting a powerful figure.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • With debts racking up, Ina loses the family’s bus company, forcing her to shift between jobs, from construction to becoming a bar entertainer, therefore forging an identity through toil.
    Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The themes for each collection come naturally to both the heritage denim brand and the multihyphenate entertainer.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The latter line, in its phrasing and melody and even the musical tone of its words, is an almost perfect mimic of Santa Claus asking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to guide his sleigh.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Imitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitator. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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