Synonyms of ape

ape 1 of 3

verb

as in to imitate

to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior

was caught aping the substitute teacher's thick accent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• imitate
• emulate
• copy
• mimic
• mock
• mime
• repeat
• parody
• echo
• copycat
• play
• caricature
• perform
• burlesque
• ditto
• pantomime
• lampoon
• impersonate
• reecho
• travesty

ape

2 of 3

adjective

as in maniac

Synonyms & Similar Words

• maniac
• berserk
• nuclear
• demented
• psychotic
• ballistic
• psycho
• mental
• crazed
• loony
• deranged
• lunatic
• cuckoo
• maniacal
• batty
• looney
• mad
• fey
• wacko
• daft
• daffy
• nuts
• whacky
• nutty
• bedlam
• loopy
• bananas
• gaga
• unhinged
• moonstruck
• non compos mentis
• dotty
• schizophrenic
• loco
• neurotic
• scatty
• amuck
• loony tunes
• insane
• schizoid
• unbalanced
• wacky
• meshuga
• meshuggah
• crackbrained
• cracked
• sociopathic
• kooky
• meshugah
• whacko
• screwy
• crackpot
• paranoid
• amok
• certifiable
• aberrant
• bughouse
• bats
• potty
• unsound
• brainsick
• barmy
• meshugge
• eccentric
• looney tunes
• delirious
• kookie
• disordered
• delusional
• delusionary
• off
• paranoic
• oddball
• tetched
• paranoiac
• paranoidal
• crazy
• bonkers
• fruity
• obsessive-compulsive
• disturbed
• witless
• foolish
• strange
• wud
• pixilated
• cranky
• irrational
• balmy
• haywire
• crackers
• touched
• pixillated
• teched
• queer
• senseless
• unreasonable
• odd
• hysteric
• frantic
• frenzied
• raving
• depressed
• distraught
• hysterical
• wigged-out
• distracted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rational
• reasonable
• normal
• clear
• wise
• sensible
• lucid
• judicious
• healthy
• sound
• sane
• well-adjusted
• balanced
• compos mentis
• unneurotic
• uncrazy

ape

3 of 3

noun

1

as in aper

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aper
• poser
• imitator
• actor
• mime
• pantomime
• masker
• impressionist
• ham
• mimic
• masquerader
• pantomimist
• personator

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonactor

2

as in anthropoid

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anthropoid
• skunk
• brute
• tike
• clown
• snake
• louse
• villain
• boor
• idiot
• cad
• stupid
• imbecile
• natural
• ignoramus
• heel
• cretin
• moron
• creep
• know-nothing
• cur
• beast
• numbskull
• donkey
• mutt
• blockhead
• hammerhead
• lunkhead
• dullard
• stinker
• dolt
• golem
• simpleton
• bonehead
• dimwit
• dodo
• stupe
• pinhead
• dunce
• blunderer
• dumbhead
• dumbbell
• numskull
• tyke
• knucklehead
• galoot
• madman
• airhead
• dummy
• loon
• dunderhead
• jackass
• goon
• loony
• dope
• noodle
• booby
• ninny
• looney
• goof
• hardhead
• meathead
• lunatic
• goose
• cluck
• dip
• simp
• prat
• churl
• saphead
• birdbrain
• nincompoop
• bubblehead
• loggerhead
• noddy
• nimrod
• gander
• doofus
• clunk
• dummkopf
• schnook
• chucklehead
• fathead
• deadhead
• nitwit
• schlub
• stock
• yahoo
• dim bulb
• dork
• mome
• ninnyhammer
• fool
• ratbag
• clodpole
• cuddy
• shlub
• half-wit
• lamebrain
• chowderhead
• nit
• slouch
• cuddie
• woodenhead
• dum-dum
• thickhead
• clot
• clodpoll
• nut
• chump
• loser
• shlemiel
• turkey
• yo-yo
• scatterbrain
• schlemiel
• rascal
• featherbrain
• Neanderthal
• hulk
• mug
• rogue
• scamp
• oaf
• lout
• palooka
• lug
• lubber
• gawk
• clodhopper
• clod
• lump

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brain
• intellectual
• genius
• sage
• thinker
• wizard
• whiz
• brainiac

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ape distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ape are copy, imitate, mimic, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When is it sensible to use copy instead of ape?

The words copy and ape 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

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to ape?

Although the words imitate and ape have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When might mimic be a better fit than ape?

The words mimic and ape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

When could mock be used to replace ape?

While the synonyms mock and ape are close in meaning, mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ape

Verb

His appearance seems designed to ape that of a poet or independent artist: Oryeong even notes this about his facial hair. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025

Aside from a striking physical resemblance to the Silent Brotherhood’s founder, Hoult closely studied his subject, aping Mathews’ mannerisms and movements from old documentary footage, studying texts that radicalized his subject, lifting weights, and cutting alcohol from his diet. —Ali Winston, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Every hominin species in the fossil record has its own unique mix of familiar human traits and more ape-like ones, shaped by their environments and lifestyles. —Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 30 Mar. 2020

Walking upright on two legs is considered a human trait that separates us from our ape relatives, like chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Apr. 2020

Noun

According to research, apes are more physiologically capable than monkeys of wielding a gun, but this relative framing still leaves room for possibility. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025

Related article These apes can tell when humans don’t know something, study finds Looking toward sea turtle conservation The most important conservation takeaway from this research is that RF waves produced by electronic devices negatively affect sea turtles’ navigation, Goforth emphasized. —Julianna Bragg, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025