COPY Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'copy' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copy are duplicate , facsimile , replica , and reproduction . While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically. // printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

Q: When might 'duplicate' be a better fit than 'copy'?

While the synonyms duplicate and copy are close in meaning, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing. // a duplicate of a house key

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

The words facsimile and copy can be used in similar contexts, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale. // a facsimile of a rare book

Q: Where would 'replica' be a reasonable alternative to 'copy'?

Although the words replica and copy have much in common, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale. // a replica of the Mayflower // miniature replicas of classic cars

Q: In what contexts can 'reproduction' take the place of 'copy'?

The words reproduction and copy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing. // reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

copy 1 of 2

noun

ˈkä-pē

Definition of copy

as in reproduction

something that is made to look exactly like something else a copy of the famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

copy

2 of 2

verb

as in to reproduce

to make an exact likeness of for the movie, set designers copied the Oval Office in the White House down to the smallest detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to imitate

to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior she shamelessly copies her idol's hairstyle and fashion choices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun copy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copy are duplicate, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When might duplicate be a better fit than copy?

While the synonyms duplicate and copy are close in meaning, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When would facsimile be a good substitute for copy?

The words facsimile and copy can be used in similar contexts, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to copy?

Although the words replica and copy have much in common, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower

miniature replicas of classic cars

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of copy?

The words reproduction and copy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

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 copy

Noun

Maybe my Kindle or a copy of The New Yorker; a toothbrush and toothpaste for overnight flights. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 The judgment requires Acosta Torres to make good-faith efforts to recover and surrender copies of those documents that might be held by other individuals. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Mass Effect trilogy, which began in 2007, married the wordy dialogue trees of role-playing games with run-and-gun gameplay, a formula that many other studios have attempted to copy, but few ever match its scale. — Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 Our Health Expert Network Fact-Checker Tom Gavin joined Everyday Health as copy chief in 2022 after a lengthy stint as a freelance copy editor. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for copy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for copy

Noun

This body of research forms some of the latticework of a social-reproduction theory of education, in which public schools are largely perceived as reflecting and reinforcing the socioeconomic structures of their surrounding community.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Bell replied in his usual jovial manner, agreeing to the reproduction of his photo in the forthcoming article.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of reproduction

Verb

That leaves open the distinction between recreating the behavior of an Atari 800XL through modern software and reproducing the original hardware more directly.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Beginning in the 1990s, researchers tested whether adding iron to seawater could reproduce some of that effect.

— Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of reproduce

Verb

Rather than simply imitating the brain with silicon chips, the approach uses actual neurons to perform computational work.

— Mike McRae October 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Others could imitate but never replicate; their coolness was predicated on their originality.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of imitate

Noun

Later, however, a faithful replica, also called the Atlantic, was built.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 Oct. 2026
That team, fittingly enough, will be honored during the Hurricanes’ game on Saturday against Pittsburgh, with the current team wearing replica jerseys to recognize the group.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of replica

Verb

Anthropic’s Claude Code tool quickly became a favorite among software developers after launching in early 2025, and the company sought to replicate that success for other office jobs earlier this year with its Cowork agent.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
As the designer explains, revisiting 1930s Milan isn’t about exactly replicating a Portaluppi bathroom.

— Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of replicate

Verb

The Royals have most of the tools needed to emulate the Brewers.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
On October 20, the mom of four diverged completely from her neutral, minimalist style to emulate her oldest daughter, North West, 13, ahead of Halloween.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of emulate

Verb

Musk reportedly ordered a slowdown of the military-grade Starlink service used by Ukraine, limiting the speeds at which connected hardware could travel and rendering some offensive and interceptor drones largely ineffective.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Authorities confirmed that the water at the plant had not been chlorinated for about three weeks, rendering it unsafe for human consumption.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of render

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copulation

copy

copycat

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Style

“Copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of copy

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