ape 1 of 3

verb

Definition of apenext
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior was caught aping the substitute teacher's thick accent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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ape

2 of 3

adjective

as in nuclear

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Dissimilar Words

ape

3 of 3

noun

1
as in aper

Related Words
2
as in anthropoid

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ape distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ape are copy, imitate, mimic, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When is it sensible to use copy instead of ape?

The words copy and ape can be used in similar contexts, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to ape?

Although the words imitate and ape have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When might mimic be a better fit than ape?

The words mimic and ape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

When could mock be used to replace ape?

While the synonyms mock and ape are close in meaning, mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

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 ape
Verb
Every hominin species in the fossil record has its own unique mix of familiar human traits and more ape-like ones, shaped by their environments and lifestyles. —Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 30 Mar. 2020 Walking upright on two legs is considered a human trait that separates us from our ape relatives, like chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Apr. 2020
Adjective
After completing the first big area of the game and meeting a giant god-like ape that resembles a headphone-wearing homage to The Jungle Book’s King Louie, a musical sequence shatters the stone revealing it to be a young girl named Pauline. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025 What applies for other apes is best kept in mind for ourselves as well, says Schuppli. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 25 June 2025
Noun
Instead of trying to ape a classic 16-bit console on modern hardware, why not develop the game properly on the original console? —Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 Banijay creative exec Lucas Green recently raised concerns that YouTubers aping traditional formats are bad for business but Hugill disagreed. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ape
  1. imitate
  2. nuclear
  3. anthropoid
  4. emulate
  5. maniac
  6. poser
  7. skunk
  8. copy
Verb
  • Perhaps the Lake Bluff streakers heard of those at CLC and wanted to imitate them.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025
  • The park’s hub-and-spoke design has been copied by parks around the world, but the caliber of Disneyland’s craftsmanship wasn’t easily imitated.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Definition of imitate
Adjective
  • The terms of the agreement are monitored by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency – which Iran has already suspended cooperation with following U.S. and Israeli strikes against its nuclear program last month.
    — Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
  • Is that going to make a measurable difference in the North Korean nuclear program?
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2025
Definition of nuclear
Noun
  • By never breaking the anthropoid conceit — keeping Williams a chimp from working-class childhood obscurity to adult pop-stardom — Better Man evolves into the most honest and exploratory showbiz movie ever made.
    — Armond White, National Review, 10 Jan. 2025
  • But thanks to a meager fossil record, the question of where this first anthropoid was born has remained open.
    — Rachel Preiser, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Definition of anthropoid
Verb
  • The luxury real estate development was designed to emulate the City of Lights, featuring its own Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and a 354-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower.
    — Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 13 July 2025
  • While these days a voice recognition computer often listens to the trainees’ commands and reacts to them in real time, the FAA also hires people to operate as pilots on the other end of the radio to better emulate real-life situations.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Definition of emulate
Adjective
  • This new version understands the overall assignment: bring back a few familiar faces; reintroduce your resident homicidal maniac hellbent on revenge; gather an insanely photogenic cast and kill most of them.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
  • Based on Roth’s fictitious trailer of the same name that appeared in Grindhouse (2007), Thanksgiving takes place in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where a masked maniac terrorizes the residents one year after a Black Friday riot ended in tragedy.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 May 2025
Definition of maniac
Noun
  • Mohammed's character Hugh has to snort cocaine during the trio's initial meeting with the gangster Fly (Paddy Considine) to prove that the trio aren't posers.
    — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 14 June 2025
  • The posers tricked victims with fake threats, like demanding payments to avoid legal consequences and potential computer issues, according to the Department of Justice.
    — Annie Goodykoontz, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Definition of poser
Noun
  • The animals included 12 bats, nine racoons, eight skunks, two groundhogs, a bobcat, three cats and a fox, data shows.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
  • People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals such as raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes, which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
Definition of skunk
Verb
  • Cartoon by Bruce Eric Kaplan Copy link to cartoon Copy link to cartoon Link copied Shop Shop Michael told me that his team was required to attempt to verify each target: examining video footage from drones, listening to telephone conversations.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • Lively’s team was also directed to make accommodations for Baldoni’s lawyers to print and copy documents.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 July 2025
Definition of copy

Browse Nearby Words

apathy
ape
aped
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Cite this Entry

“Ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ape. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ape

Nglish: Translation of ape for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ape

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