aped

past tense of ape
as in imitated
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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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 aped Nicholson's fireworks would be subsequently aped, and amped up to over-the-top proportions, by other actors and by the future Batman villain himself. Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 But none aped the style of an actual Super Bowl ad more cleverly than this one, clearly modeled after Budweiser’s ads that tend to feature horses and inspirational voiceovers. Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026 American elites aped European fashions, art, and manners, and Europeans admired American energy and efficiency. Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aped
Verb
  • Still, Nixon created a blueprint for presidential lawlessness that Trump imitated and greatly expanded.
    Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The University of Chicago, University of Illinois and Columbia University soon imitated this approach.
    Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • The art establishment often drew on, if not directly copied, Kusama’s work.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Much of the content generated promoted an organization called the International Burke Institute (IBI), the website of which features articles copied from real academic writing, sometimes with false attribution.
    Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Others snapped selfies holding physical copies of Hard Court and marveled at the chestnut burrs—that emulated the look of tennis balls—placed around the shop.
    Paul Chi, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Liccardo pitched the framework as a legislative model that could be emulated across levels of local government in the Bay Area to create region-wide protection against potential ICE facilities.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This gave confidence that the simulant accurately mimicked lunar conditions.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Led by Jean-Philippe Mateta, almost the entire Crystal Palace team leapt into the air, extended one leg and mimicked their team-mate performing his traditional corner-flag kick.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aped. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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