imitative
Following another's lead
Imitative describes something that copies or mimics something else.
An imitative style follows established models rather than innovating.
Imitative behavior in children is how they learn—watching and reproducing what adults do.
In linguistics, imitative words (also called onomatopoeia) sound like what they represent: buzz, splash, meow.
The term often carries a faint suggestion of derivativeness: merely imitative rather than original.
Speech-mimicking tropical bird
- apeTailless higher primate
- mirrorReflective viewing surface
- emulateCopy with aspiration
- replicateCopy exactly
duplicate · reproduce · clone · counterfeit · forgery · knockoff · replica · facsimile
Expression of deep respect
- tributeOffering of respect
- pasticheImitative artistic tribute
- parodySatirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
burlesque · spoof · lampoon · caricature · send-up · takeoff · mockery · impersonation
Fraudulent imitation
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- fakeNot the real thing
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- shamFraudulent imitation
ersatz · pseudo · knockoff · bootleg · pirated · spurious · fraudulent · bogus
Reflected sound wave
- buzzContinuous low drone
- hissSharp sibilant sound
- splashLiquid scattering on impact
- clangLoud metallic sound
murmur · whisper · rustle · crackle · sizzle · meow · woof · cuckoo
Simulating or demonstrating form
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- socializationInternalizing cultural norms
- enculturationAcquiring cultural norms unconsciously
role-playing · practice · drill · rote · conditioning · habituation · scaffolding · assimilation
parrot
Speech-mimicking tropical bird
replicate · duplicate · reproduce · clone · counterfeit · forgery · knockoff · replica · facsimile · ditto
homage
Expression of deep respect
satire · burlesque · spoof · lampoon · caricature · send-up · takeoff · mockery · impersonation · adaptation
counterfeit
Fraudulent imitation
sham · ersatz · pseudo · knockoff · bootleg · pirated · spurious · fraudulent · bogus · mock
echo
Reflected sound wave
clang · murmur · whisper · rustle · crackle · sizzle · meow · woof · cuckoo · boom
modeling
Simulating or demonstrating form
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- socializationInternalizing cultural norms
enculturation · role-playing · practice · drill · rote · conditioning · habituation · scaffolding · assimilation · acquisition
- descriptorsnew, novel, original, innovative, modern
- Memesdoge, rickrolling, Nyan Cat, lolcat, meme culture
- primate traitsopposable thumbs, grasping hands, prehensile, binocular vision, arboreal
- Cookie-Cuttertemplate, mold, clone, copycat, carbon copy
imitativeoriginal
First or inventive
creative · innovative · inventive · imaginative · groundbreaking
imitativenatural
Not artificially produced
spontaneous · instinctive · innate · intuitive · unlearned
- imitation crabProcessed fish mimicking shellfish
- life imitating artReality shaped by fiction
- pale imitationInferior version of something
- imitation vanillaSynthetic bean-pod flavoring
- imitation leather
- The Imitation GameEnigma decryption drama