Imitated and intimated look and sound somewhat similar, but they have completely different meanings. Imitated means copied or reproduced the way someone or something looks, sounds, behaves, or works. Intimated usually means hinted at, suggested, or communicated something indirectly.
These two words can easily confuse English learners because both begin with “imit-” or “intim-” and have similar spellings. However, they belong to different word families and are used in very different situations. Knowing the difference between imitated vs intimated will help you avoid common spelling and vocabulary mistakes in writing and conversation.
Quick Answer
Imitated means copied or reproduced something, such as a person’s behavior, accent, style, or design. Intimated means hinted at or indirectly communicated something. For example, “He imitated his teacher” means he copied the teacher, while “She intimated that she was unhappy” means she hinted that she was unhappy.
Why Do People Confuse It?
People often confuse imitated and intimated because they have similar spellings and pronunciations.
Both words contain several of the same letters, and both can appear in formal writing. However, their meanings are unrelated.
A simple way to separate them is:
- Imitated = copied
- Intimated = hinted
For example:
- The child imitated his father.
- The manager intimated that changes were coming.
In the first sentence, the child copied his father’s behavior. In the second, the manager indirectly suggested something.
First Word: Imitated
Imitated is the past tense and past participle of the verb imitate.
What does “imitated” mean?
Imitated means copied the appearance, actions, behavior, voice, style, or characteristics of someone or something.
It can describe deliberate copying, whether the purpose is learning, entertainment, admiration, or reproduction.
Examples of “imitated”
- The student imitated the teacher’s pronunciation.
- The comedian imitated the actor’s voice.
- The artist imitated the style of a famous painter.
- The young bird imitated the sounds of other birds.
- The company imitated its competitor’s design.
Word family
- Imitate — verb
- Imitated — past tense/past participle
- Imitating — present participle
- Imitation — noun
- Imitative — adjective
Second Word: Intimated
Intimated is the past tense and past participle of the verb intimate.
What does “intimated” mean?
Intimated means hinted at, suggested, or communicated something indirectly.
It is often used when someone does not state something openly but gives another person an idea about what they mean.
For example:
The director intimated that the company might expand.
This means the director hinted or suggested that expansion might happen. The director did not necessarily say it directly.
Word family
- Intimate — verb
- Intimated — past tense/past participle
- Intimation — noun
Note that intimate can also be an adjective meaning very close or personal, and a noun meaning a close friend. Those meanings are different from the verb intimate meaning “to hint.”
Imitated vs Intimated: Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Part of Speech | Example |
| Imitated | Copied or reproduced | Verb | She imitated her sister’s accent. |
| Intimated | Hinted or suggested indirectly | Verb | He intimated that he might resign. |
The key difference is simple: imitated involves copying, while intimated involves indirect communication.
When Should You Use “Imitated”?
Use imitated when someone or something copies another person or thing.
Common situations include:
- Copying someone’s behavior
- Copying an accent or voice
- Reproducing an artistic style
- Copying a design
- Mimicking an animal’s sounds
- Reproducing a particular technique
Examples
- The boy imitated his father’s walking style.
- She imitated the singer’s voice perfectly.
- The comedian imitated several famous celebrities.
- The student imitated the pronunciation of a native speaker.
- The company imitated a popular product design.
When Should You Use “Intimated”?
Use intimated when someone gives an indirect suggestion or hint.
It is particularly common in formal writing and reporting.
Examples
- The manager intimated that the meeting would be postponed.
- She intimated that she was unhappy with the decision.
- The politician intimated that he might retire.
- The teacher intimated that the test would be difficult.
- The company intimated that prices could increase.
In each sentence, the person does not necessarily state the information directly. Instead, they hint at it.
12 Examples of Imitated and Intimated
Here are more examples to make the difference easier to remember.
Examples with “Imitated”
- The child imitated his mother’s laugh.
- The actor imitated the president’s voice.
- She imitated her friend’s dance moves.
- The artist imitated the original painting.
- The student imitated the teacher’s pronunciation.
- The dog imitated the sound it heard.
Examples with “Intimated”
- The manager intimated that layoffs were possible.
- She intimated that she wanted to leave early.
- He intimated that the plan might fail.
- The report intimated that further investigation was needed.
- The coach intimated that a change was coming.
- Her expression intimated that something was wrong.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “intimated” when you mean “copied”
Incorrect:
He intimated his brother’s accent.
Correct:
He imitated his brother’s accent.
An accent can be copied, so imitated is the correct word.
Mistake 2: Using “imitated” when you mean “hinted”
Incorrect:
The manager imitated that he might resign.
Correct:
The manager intimated that he might resign.
Here, the manager is giving an indirect suggestion rather than copying something.
Mistake 3: Confusing “intimate” with “intimated”
Intimate has several meanings.
As a verb:
She intimated that she knew the answer.
As an adjective:
They had an intimate conversation.
The meanings are different, so always consider the context.
Memory Trick
Use this simple trick:
IMITATED = IMITATE = COPY
Think of an imitation product. An imitation is a copy of something.
INTIMATED = HINTED
Think of intimation as an indirect message or hint.
So remember:
Imitated = copied it.
Intimated = hinted it.
American vs British English
The meanings of imitated and intimated are essentially the same in American and British English.
Both varieties use imitated to mean copied or mimicked.
Both also use intimated to mean hinted or suggested indirectly.
For example:
- American English: “She imitated his accent.”
- British English: “She imitated his accent.”
And:
- American English: “He intimated that he might leave.”
- British English: “He intimated that he might leave.”
The main difference is not regional usage but meaning and context.
Similar Words
Understanding related words can make the distinction even clearer.
Words similar to “imitated”
- Copied
- Mimicked
- Reproduced
- Replicated
- Emulated
- Mirrored
- Modeled
Example:
The child mimicked the teacher.
This has a meaning close to imitated.
Words similar to “intimated”
- Hinted
- Suggested
- Implied
- Indicated
- Signaled
- Mentioned indirectly
Example:
She hinted that she was considering another job.
This is close in meaning to intimated.
Final Verdict
Imitated and intimated are not interchangeable.
Use imitated when something is copied or mimicked. Use intimated when something is hinted at or suggested indirectly.
Compare these two sentences:
The actor imitated the singer.
The actor copied the singer’s manner or voice.
The actor intimated that he would leave the show.
The actor indirectly suggested that he would leave.
Remembering copied vs hinted is the easiest way to choose the correct word.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between imitated and intimated?
Imitated means copied or mimicked, while intimated means hinted at or suggested indirectly.
2. Is “imitated” the same as “copied”?
Yes. Imitated commonly means copied or mimicked someone’s behavior, appearance, voice, style, or actions.
3. Does “intimated” mean hinted?
Yes. Intimated can mean hinted, suggested, or communicated something indirectly.
4. Which is correct: “imitated his accent” or “intimated his accent”?
Imitated his accent is correct because an accent can be copied or mimicked.
5. Can “intimated” mean “implied”?
Yes. In many contexts, intimated can mean suggested or implied something without stating it directly.
6. What is the noun form of imitated?
The related noun is imitation.
7. What is the noun form of intimated?
The related noun is intimation, meaning an indirect suggestion or hint.
8. Are imitated and intimated pronounced the same?
No. They have different pronunciations and meanings, although their spellings can make them easy to confuse.
Remember This
IMITATED = COPIED
INTIMATED = HINTED
If someone copies a voice, style, action, or behavior, use imitated.
If someone indirectly suggests or hints at an idea, use intimated.
Conclusion
The difference between imitated vs intimated becomes simple once you focus on their meanings. Imitated describes copying or mimicking something, while intimated describes indirectly communicating an idea or suggestion. Although the words look similar, they are used in completely different contexts.
When you’re unsure, ask yourself one question: “Is someone copying something, or are they giving a hint?” If they are copying, choose imitated. If they are hinting or suggesting, choose intimated. This simple distinction will help you use both words accurately.
