imitative
adjective
im·i·ta·tive
ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv 
especially British -tə-tiv
1
a
: marked by imitation
acting is an imitative art
b
: reproducing or representing a natural sound : onomatopoeic
"hiss" is an imitative word
c
: exhibiting mimicry
2
: inclined to imitate
3
: imitating something superior : counterfeit
imitatively
adverb
imitativeness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of imitative in a Sentence
The architecture is imitative of a Japanese temple.
your writing style tends to be imitative of whichever author you've recently read
Recent Examples on the Web
Aziz rolled out a summer crime imitative in 2021, shortly after his tenure began.
—
Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
The Emory oak restoration imitative to preserve groves in the region recently marked its fifth anniversary, Peacey said.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024
Girard drew from his early-career studies of literary figures such as Proust the insight that desire is essentially imitative (or mimetic) rather than straightforwardly directed toward its apparent objects.
—Michelle Orange, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Mae’s life aligns with the repetitive, imitative work of Warhol, showing us that the story of growing into an adult — becoming a woman — is a story of aesthetic creation.
—Bekah Waalkes, Washington Post, 10 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for imitative 
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.
Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
The Emory oak restoration imitative to preserve groves in the region recently marked its fifth anniversary, Peacey said.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024
Girard drew from his early-career studies of literary figures such as Proust the insight that desire is essentially imitative (or mimetic) rather than straightforwardly directed toward its apparent objects.
—Michelle Orange, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Mae’s life aligns with the repetitive, imitative work of Warhol, showing us that the story of growing into an adult — becoming a woman — is a story of aesthetic creation.
—Bekah Waalkes, Washington Post, 10 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for imitative
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Dictionary Entries Near imitative
Cite this Entry
“Imitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imitative. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imitative
adjective
im·i·ta·tive
ˈim-ə-ˌtāt-iv
1
: involving imitation
2
: given to imitating
3
: imitating something better
imitatively
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share