Irene Pepperberg, a researcher at Northwestern University, is discovering that a parrot can not only mimic people but also learn the meaning of words.
Source: tatoeba (35781)
Mimic
/ˈmɪm.ɪk/
Synonyms for "mimic" (260 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
Noun(12 words)
actact a partact asact outactoractressantagonistapeapishappear likeapproachapproximatebad guybarnstormerbe likebe redolent ofbear resemblancebring to mindburlesquecall to mind
Show 16 more words
call upcaricaturecaricaturistcharactercharacter actorcharacter mancharacter womanchild actorcome closecome nearcomparecompare withconformistcopiercopycopycat
Adjective(1 words)
childish aping
Strong matches (78)
Noun(23 words)
copycatscopycattingcopyingcopying ethicscopying practicecopying taskcopying textdelacroixduplicatingechoingemulateemulatoremulatorsfacsimileimitateimitation patternimitativeimitatorimitatorsimpersonator
Show 3 more words
Verb(11 words)
copycattedemulate styleemulatedemulatingfacsimiledimitate actionimitatedimitatesimitatingimpersonatedimpersonating
Adjective(1 words)
generic pattern
Related words (130)
lampoonlook likemake fun ofmake-believemasquerademasquerade asmatchmatinee idolmimemimermimeticmimickermirrormockmockermockingbirdmonkeymonologistmummummer
Show 72 more words
nearnearly reproducenot tell apartonomatopoeiconomatopoeticpantomimepantomimistparallelparodistparodyparrotpartake ofpasspass forpatternperformperformerpersonatephonyplagiaristplayplay a partplayactorplayerpoll-parrotpollypolly-parrotposepose asposeurpretend to bepretendedprotean actorreciterremind one ofrepresentreproduceresembleridiculerosciussatirizesavor ofseemseem likeshamsheepsimulatesimulatedsimulativesimulatorsmack ofsoubrettesound likestack upstack up withstage performerstage playerstoogestraight manstrollerstrolling playersuggesttaketake aftertake offtake off ontheatricalthespiantravestytrouperutility manvillain
Noun(30 words)
lookalikelyrebirdmeowsmimicsmimingmirror patternmore imitatedpantomimesparrotingparrotspastichepastichespattern designedpattern formingpattern taskspattern weeklyrepeaterreplicate readingsreplicate sampleresembling
Show 10 more words
romanian simulashadowingsimulatedsimulated systemsimulatingspoofingsynthetictrace ofwriting stylezoo ape
Determiner(1 words)
more copying ethics
Adverb(1 words)
most copycat
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: mimicker, act, act a part, act as, act out.
- Sentence evidence is available for mimic, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "mimic".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "mimic"
Keep "mimic" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "mimic" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "mimic", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "mimic" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
11 entriesCollocations
15 entriesBatesian mimicMullerian mimiclookalike speciesmimic a gesturemimic a patternmimic accuratelymimic behaviormimic designmimic displaymimic leavesmimic modelmimic patternmimic someone\'s voicemimicry techniquestage impersonator
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
6 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
9 translations across 8 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- имитатор noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Finnish
1 entries- miimikko noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Hebrew
1 entries- חקיין noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Irish
1 entries- aithriseoir noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Norman
1 entries- d'ganneux noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Portuguese
1 entries- mímico noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Punjabi
1 entries- ਸਾਂਗੀ noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Russian
2 entries- имита́тор noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
- мим noun (a person who practices mimicry, or mime)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
Sport is frankly mimic warfare.
Source: tatoeba (51621)
A parrot can mimic a person's voice.
Source: tatoeba (65170)
He began to mimic the speech and gait of persons in the street.
Source: tatoeba (3753009)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "mimic"?
Closest matches include mimicker, act, act a part, act as, act out.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "mimic"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.