copycat 1 of 2

as in imitator
a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way every rock singer who makes it big soon has a whole cluster of copycats

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copycat

2 of 2

verb

1
2
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior a performer who slavishly copycats another never rises to the level of true stardom

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 copycat
Noun
Survivor’s debut in 2000 marked a turning point in reality television innovation; afterward, many copycats spawned, inspired by the complexity of the gameplay. Hannah Berman august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025 One of Android’s biggest vulnerabilities is the sideloading of apps from outside Play Store, which has evolved as a free-for-all and the source of frightening levels of malware, copycat apps and updates, and widespread permission abuse. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Park mentioned the case of the Boston Marathon Bomber, in which social media led to misidentification of suspects, and possibly to copycat cases. Michael M. Dewitt, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2021 Its new twist on phishing alerts, though, could give it and copycat criminal hackers one more edge in a fight that’s already unfair. Brian Barrett, Wired, 14 Oct. 2021 See All Example Sentences for copycat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copycat
Noun
  • That instinct to merge craftsmanship with culture has kept him ahead of imitators.
    Janee Bolden, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Build a content machine that runs so fast, followers see you as the source, not the imitators.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way.
    Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Yes, speed is table stakes, but also easy to copy; whereas feeling understood is what moves the needle towards the positive.
    Tayfun Bilsel, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Advanced adversaries are now using generative AI to construct deepfake biometrics, complete PII profiles with believable digital histories and even replicate consistent interaction patterns that imitate human behavior.
    Rohan Pinto, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In the image, the president is also backdropped by a city beach covered with fire and smoke, seemingly imitating an active war zone.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Her authenticity and beauty content attracted millions of followers and high-profile brand partnerships.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Employers increasingly wonder whether campuses are cultivating independent thinkers or just cautious followers.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But while salons have offered steam treatments as a curly hair staple for decades, at-home steamers have been too bulky (attempting to replicate in-salon domes) or too hard to use, requiring you to wrestle your curls into heated thermal caps, a battle that’s easy to lose.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Here, 20 members of Forbes Coaches Council share soft skills professionals will need to stay resilient as the world of work continues to evolve them, underscoring the importance of honing human capabilities that technology can’t replicate.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • His values—American values—are the best hope for our republic and should emulated by all.
    Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • One of his hallmarks was performing shirtless and flaunting his abs on stage, setting a bold trend that other male K-pop idols would soon emulate.
    Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Street food tours through Gwangjang Market echo scenes of communal joy found in the film’s lighter moments.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • As the seas warm, researchers have found that sound carries farther, and that rising acidity alters the very chemistry of how vibrations move through saltwater, reshaping the pathways of song and echo.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is the company’s guiding philosophy and aims to reproduce audio just as the artist intended with lifelike realism, emotional depth and spatial precision.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • This Imperial Beach restaurant plans to reproduce its business at Terminal 1.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Copycat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copycat. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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