imitative

adjective

ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv How to pronounce imitative (audio)
Definition of imitativenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 The word is likely imitative (onomatopoeic), echoing the sound of heavy breathing during sleep. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Since then, whenever new tools to crank out communications have become available, somebody has flooded the zone with the fastest, most imitative material that could garner attention. — Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 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 See All Example Sentences for imitative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imitative
  1. mimetic
  2. synthetic
  3. formulaic
  4. faux
  5. mock
  6. simulated
  7. unoriginal
  8. artificial
Adjective
  • It’s supposed to be mimetic of speech.
    — Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • This recycling of historical materials, multiplied by the dozens of characters developed in Bomarzo, produces a mimetic effect.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025
Definition of mimetic
Adjective
  • Tight or synthetic clothing can increase bacterial growth on the skin, including in areas that promote UTIs, due to additional sweating.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Their work ultimately led to the creation of the first synthetic hydrogel made from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), or pHEMA.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Plath famously spent years trying and failing to master formulaic, commercial short fiction for magazines like Ladies’ Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
  • Craft unique, non-formulaic hooks to grab attention.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of formulaic
Adjective
  • Inside, a memory foam insole with arch support cushions every step, and the soft faux leather molds to your ideal fit over time.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • The white interior and faux leather are also available in Overland and reviewed Limited trims.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • Those included a charmingly cluttered Bucket family home, a lush candyland with the smell of chocolate piped through the Royal Theater to complement the full-size mock chocolate river, and a glass elevator that flew above the audience.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Grindlinger is a two-way standout from Southern California who Baseball America had going to Boston in its latest mock draft.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 July 2026
Definition of mock
Adjective
  • Together, those technologies allow the robot to learn human movements through thousands of simulated training sessions before executing them in dynamic real-world environments.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The habitat is complete with private crew quarters, a crop cultivation area, an airlock and a sandbox for simulated Mars walks.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of simulated
Adjective
  • The film's trailer looked unoriginal and uninteresting.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • The first stage began in July 2025, when Meta announced comprehensive measures targeting accounts that repeatedly share unoriginal content without meaningful enhancement, building on enforcement actions that had already been taken against 500,000 accounts in the first half of the year.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026
Definition of unoriginal
Adjective
  • The West should also stop drawing artificial distinctions that favor Russian escalation management over Ukrainian survival.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Instead of using artificial colors, look for ingredients that naturally fit the bill.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of artificial

Browse Nearby Words

imitations
imitative
imitator
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Cite this Entry

“Imitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imitative. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of imitative for Spanish Speakers

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