1
as in imitation
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model
your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
an imitative extract never has the flavor of the real thing
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Recent Examples of imitative
It may be borrowed or coined, named after a person, inspired by a place or imitative of a sound.
—
Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Conversations in dorm rooms and lecture halls consist of roughly 97% university-loathing and imitative protests to fire coaches and athletic directors.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Third-party imitative learning from an immigrating parrot’s flockmates may facilitate overall group integration and social bonding and may even give rise to cultural conventions of coordinated movements or gestures.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
In Roeck’s picture, competitive, rather than imitative, habits of mind rose from religious warfare, establishing a cutthroat system of cultural and economic innovation which lasts to this day.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitative
Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Conversations in dorm rooms and lecture halls consist of roughly 97% university-loathing and imitative protests to fire coaches and athletic directors.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Third-party imitative learning from an immigrating parrot’s flockmates may facilitate overall group integration and social bonding and may even give rise to cultural conventions of coordinated movements or gestures.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
In Roeck’s picture, competitive, rather than imitative, habits of mind rose from religious warfare, establishing a cutthroat system of cultural and economic innovation which lasts to this day.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for imitative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitative
Adjective
-
It’s supposed to be mimetic of speech.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
One of the most delightful examples of mimetic architecture along Route 66, this West Hollywood gem does exactly what the structure suggests: serves mouthwatering hot dogs.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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What is in tandem here is the exuberantly generative possibility of life itself (SCOBY, water) alongside the very synthetic polymers that are literally wrecking life on an individual and systemic level.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
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The synthetic material helps with durability.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Built in the 1830s, the 25-foot-wide home was completely reimagined by Yellowtrees Studio, resulting in a thoughtful blend of historic character and contemporary design that avoids both museum-like preservation and the formulaic feel of a luxury flip.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
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Well, people have always written schlocky or formulaic books.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Much like the Juliette bag, this faux leather weekender from Wogarl combines style and functionality, with enough room to fit a week’s worth of clothing and a 21-inch laptop.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
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The rooms feature Bianco Bianchi faux marble scagliola pieces, precious tapestries by artist Elena Carozzi, Impruneta terracotta flooring and bathrooms in Cipollino marble from Carrara.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Public health officials have been preparing for months, said Philadelphia’s Raval-Nelson, including with mock emergency drills and communications with counterparts around the country.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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The mock-neck tank pairs effortlessly with jeans, shorts, or skirts, while the floral wide-leg pants can stand on their own with a simple white tee.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Francisco Lindor put that team on his back and carried them, and the shortstop is playing in more simulated games while the team is away to get game reps before a rehab assignment.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
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The game is a simulated, interactive exercise that aims to help people better understand the budget process and explore real-world tradeoffs involved in funding city programs and services.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Other artists copied his style, which at first the artist considered flattering but later saw it as unoriginal as his popularity grew.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Apr. 2026
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This makes your home feel intentional and personal instead of sterile and unoriginal.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In Vancouver, that means over top the concrete floor and existing artificial turf, there’s thin layers of thousands of tons of material.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Take the drug away, and that artificial signal disappears.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Cite this Entry
“Imitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitative. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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