English has many words that sound similar but have completely different meanings. Imitated and intimated are a good example. Because both words contain similar sounds and spelling patterns, it is easy to confuse them when speaking or writing. However, they describe very different actions.
Imitated is the past tense of imitate, meaning to copy someone or something, often by reproducing their behavior, appearance, voice, style, or actions. Intimated, on the other hand, is the past tense of intimate when used as a verb. It means to suggest, hint at, or communicate something indirectly. Understanding this distinction will help you avoid common spelling and vocabulary mistakes and choose the correct word confidently in everyday English, academic writing, and professional communication.
Quick Answer
Imitated means copied or reproduced, while intimated means hinted at or suggested indirectly. If someone copies another person’s behavior, they imitated them. If someone subtly suggested an idea without stating it directly, they intimated it.
Why People Confuse It
The confusion between imitated vs intimated usually comes from their similar spelling and pronunciation.
Both words contain the letters “imat” and have several similar sounds:
- Imitated → im-i-tay-tid
- Intimated → in-ti-may-tid
They also both come from verbs ending in -ate:
- imitate → imitated
- intimate → intimated
But their meanings are completely different.
The easiest way to separate them is to focus on the action:
- Imitated = copied
- Intimated = hinted
For example:
Sarah imitated her teacher’s accent.
Sarah copied the teacher’s way of speaking.
Sarah intimated that she might leave the company.
Sarah indirectly suggested that she might leave.
Imitated: Meaning and Usage
Imitated is the past tense and past participle of imitate.
To imitate means to copy or reproduce the behavior, appearance, voice, style, or actions of another person or thing.
You can imitate:
- A person’s voice
- Someone’s behavior
- A facial expression
- A writing style
- A dance
- An accent
- An animal’s sounds
- A design
- A successful product
Examples of “Imitated”
- The comedian imitated the actor’s famous voice.
- The child imitated his father’s gestures.
- The artist imitated the style of a famous painter.
- The students imitated their teacher’s pronunciation.
- The bird imitated the sound of a car alarm.
In each example, someone or something is being copied.
Forms of “Imitate”
| Form | Word |
| Base form | imitate |
| Third-person singular | imitates |
| Past tense | imitated |
| Present participle | imitating |
| Past participle | imitated |
Intimated: Meaning and Usage
Intimated is the past tense and past participle of intimate when intimate functions as a verb.
As a verb, intimate means to suggest or communicate something indirectly rather than stating it openly.
It is often used when someone gives a hint about something without making a direct statement.
For example:
The manager intimated that layoffs could happen soon.
The manager did not necessarily say, “There will be layoffs.” Instead, they hinted at the possibility.
Examples of “Intimated”
- She intimated that she was unhappy with the decision.
- The lawyer intimated that more evidence would be presented.
- He intimated that he might resign.
- The report intimated that the company had financial problems.
- The politician intimated that changes were coming.
The key idea is indirect communication.
Imitated vs Intimated: Comparison Table
| Feature | Imitated | Intimated |
| Root word | Imitate | Intimate |
| Meaning | Copied or reproduced | Suggested or hinted |
| Part of speech | Verb | Verb |
| Past tense | Imitated | Intimated |
| Main idea | Copying | Indirect communication |
| Common object | Person, behavior, style, sound | Idea, possibility, feeling, intention |
| Example | He imitated his brother. | He intimated that he was leaving. |
| Easy synonym | Copied | Suggested |
The simplest distinction
Imitated = copied something.
Intimated = hinted at something.
When to Use Each
Choosing between these two words becomes easy when you ask yourself what happened.
Use “imitated” when someone copied something
Use imitated when the sentence describes copying or reproducing something.
Examples:
- He imitated his coach.
- She imitated the singer’s voice.
- The child imitated the cartoon character.
- The company imitated its competitor’s design.
Think copy.
Use “intimated” when someone hinted at something
Use intimated when a person communicates an idea indirectly.
Examples:
- She intimated that she was considering another job.
- He intimated that the meeting would be canceled.
- The CEO intimated that profits were declining.
Think hint or suggest.
A useful test
Ask:
“Did they copy it?”
If yes, use imitated.
Ask:
“Did they hint at it?”
If yes, use intimated.
Examples of Imitated vs Intimated
Here are more examples to make the distinction clear.
- The boy imitated his older brother’s walking style.
- The manager intimated that the deadline might be extended.
- The actress imitated a famous celebrity during the comedy show.
- He intimated that he knew more than he was saying.
- The students imitated their instructor’s pronunciation.
- The email intimated that the project was in trouble.
- The parrot imitated the sound of a ringing phone.
- She intimated that she did not approve of the plan.
- The designer imitated the traditional pattern.
- The politician intimated that an announcement was coming.
- The child imitated the superhero’s movements.
- His comments intimated that he wanted to leave.
- The comedian imitated the president’s voice.
- The evidence intimated that something had gone wrong.
Notice the pattern: imitated involves copying, while intimated involves indirect suggestion.
Common Mistakes
1. Using “intimated” when you mean “copied”
Incorrect:
The student intimated the teacher’s accent.
This sounds as though the student indirectly suggested the teacher’s accent.
Correct:
The student imitated the teacher’s accent.
2. Using “imitated” when you mean “hinted”
Incorrect:
The manager imitated that the company would close.
Correct:
The manager intimated that the company would close.
Here, the manager is indirectly suggesting something rather than copying anything.
3. Confusing “intimate” the verb with “intimate” the adjective
Intimate has multiple meanings.
As an adjective, it can describe something personal, private, or closely connected:
They had an intimate conversation.
As a verb, intimate can mean to hint or suggest:
She intimated that she was disappointed.
The pronunciation can also differ depending on the use, which adds to the confusion.
4. Assuming similar spelling means similar meaning
English contains many words that look alike but have unrelated meanings. Imitate and intimate are one such pair.
Always check the meaning rather than relying on spelling alone.
Memory Trick
Use this simple trick:
IMITATED = IMITATE = COPY
Think:
“I imitate what I copy.”
If someone copies a voice, style, movement, or behavior, they imitated it.
INTIMATED = HINTED
Think:
“Intimated = indicated indirectly.”
Both intimated and indicated can involve communicating something without stating it directly.
So remember:
IMITATED = COPIED
INTIMATED = HINTED
This two-word memory trick can help you choose the correct word quickly.
American vs British English
There is essentially no difference in meaning between American and British English when it comes to imitated and intimated.
Both varieties use:
- imitated for copied or reproduced
- intimated for suggested or hinted
For example, an American writer might say:
The actor imitated the singer.
A British writer can use exactly the same sentence.
Likewise:
The minister intimated that changes were likely.
The meaning remains the same in both varieties of English.
The difference is therefore not American vs British usage. It is primarily a matter of meaning and context.
Similar Words
Knowing synonyms can make the distinction even easier.
Words similar to “imitated”
- Copied
- Mimicked
- Reproduced
- Mirrored
- Emulated
- Replicated
- Modeled
- Parroted
Example:
The child mimicked his father’s movements.
This has a meaning similar to imitated.
Words similar to “intimated”
- Suggested
- Hinted
- Indicated
- Implied
- Signaled
- Conveyed
- Insinuated
- Mentioned indirectly
Example:
She hinted that she might move away.
This is similar to:
She intimated that she might move away.
FAQs
Is “imitated” the same as “intimated”?
No. Imitated means copied or mimicked, while intimated means suggested or hinted at indirectly.
What does “imitated” mean?
Imitated means copied or reproduced someone’s behavior, appearance, voice, style, action, or another characteristic.
What does “intimated” mean?
Intimated means suggested or communicated something indirectly rather than stating it clearly or directly.
Is “intimated” a real word?
Yes. Intimated is the past tense and past participle of the verb intimate, meaning to hint or suggest.
Is “imitated” a real word?
Yes. Imitated is the past tense and past participle of imitate, meaning to copy or reproduce.
What is an easy synonym for “imitated”?
The easiest synonym is copied. Depending on the context, mimicked, replicated, or emulated may also work.
What is an easy synonym for “intimated”?
The easiest synonym is hinted. Suggested, implied, and indicated can also be appropriate.
How can I remember the difference between imitated and intimated?
Remember: imitated = copied, while intimated = hinted. If someone copies an action, use imitated. If someone indirectly communicates an idea, use intimated.
Final Verdict
Imitated and intimated are not interchangeable. Although their spelling and pronunciation are similar, they describe two completely different ideas.
Use imitated when someone copies a person, sound, action, style, appearance, or behavior. Use intimated when someone hints at or suggests an idea without expressing it directly.
The fastest way to remember the difference is:
Imitated = copied.
Intimated = hinted.
Once you connect each word with its core meaning, choosing between them becomes much easier. Whether you’re writing an email, an academic paper, a blog post, or everyday English, this simple distinction will help you avoid one of the more easily confused word pairs in English.
Remember This
IMITATED → COPIED
INTIMATED → HINTED
If someone copies, they imitated it.
If someone hints, they intimated it.
I’m Elliot Pierce, Administrator at Grammetics, dedicated to improving word matching and grammar. I help maintain useful content, support readers, and make language learning simple, clear, accurate, and engaging.
