English has many word pairs that look and sound surprisingly similar but have completely different meanings. Imitated vs intimated is one of them. Because both words begin with “imit-” and “intim-” and have similar pronunciations, it is easy to confuse them in writing. However, they describe two very different actions.
Imitated is the past tense of imitate, meaning to copy or reproduce someone’s behavior, appearance, style, sound, or actions. Intimated, on the other hand, is the past tense of intimate when used as a verb, meaning to hint at or communicate something indirectly.
Knowing this distinction can help you avoid spelling mistakes and choose the correct word in academic writing, professional communication, and everyday English. This guide explains the meanings, differences, usage rules, examples, common mistakes, and a simple memory trick for remembering imitated vs intimated.
Quick Answer
Imitated means copied, mimicked, or reproduced something. Intimated means hinted at or suggested something indirectly. For example, “She imitated her teacher’s accent” means she copied it, while “She intimated that she was unhappy” means she hinted that she was unhappy.
Why People Confuse It
The confusion between imitated and intimated mainly comes from their similar spelling and pronunciation.
Both words:
- Begin with a similar sound.
- Contain several of the same letters.
- Can appear in formal writing.
- Are derived from verbs ending in -ate.
- Are often used in the past tense.
However, their meanings are unrelated.
Think of the difference this way:
Imitated = copied
Intimated = hinted
Once you connect each word with its core meaning, the distinction becomes much easier to remember.
Imitated: Meaning and Usage
Imitated is the past tense and past participle of imitate.
It means copied, mimicked, or reproduced the actions, behavior, appearance, sound, or style of someone or something.
Examples
- The child imitated his father’s gestures.
- She imitated the singer’s voice perfectly.
- The artist imitated the style of a famous painter.
- He imitated his older brother’s mannerisms.
- The comedian imitated several famous actors.
You can use imitated whenever someone or something is being copied or mimicked.
Simple definition
Intimated: Meaning and Usage
Intimated is the past tense and past participle of intimate when intimate is used as a verb.
As a verb, intimate means to hint, suggest, or communicate something indirectly rather than stating it openly.
Examples
- She intimated that she might leave the company.
- The manager intimated that changes were coming.
- He intimated that he disagreed with the decision.
- The report intimated that the project was in trouble.
- She intimated that she already knew the truth.
In these sentences, nobody is being copied. Instead, information or feelings are being communicated indirectly.
Imitated vs Intimated: Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Word Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imitated | Copied or mimicked | Past tense of imitate | He imitated his coach. |
| Intimated | Hinted or suggested indirectly | Past tense of intimate | She intimated that she was worried. |
The easiest distinction is:
If something was copied, use “imitated.”
If something was hinted at, use “intimated.”
When to Use Each
Use “Imitated” When Something Is Copied
Use imitated when someone reproduces another person’s:
- Actions
- Voice
- Behavior
- Appearance
- Writing style
- Accent
- Mannerisms
- Technique
Example:
The student imitated the teacher’s pronunciation.
Here, the student copied the pronunciation.
Use “Intimated” When Something Is Suggested Indirectly
Use intimated when someone communicates an idea without stating it directly.
Example:
The director intimated that the company would make changes soon.
The director did not necessarily state the changes openly. Instead, the director hinted at them.
Examples of Imitated vs Intimated
Here are clear examples showing the difference:
- The young actor imitated the famous comedian’s expressions.
- She imitated her mother’s way of speaking.
- The student imitated the pronunciation from the recording.
- The artist imitated the original painting.
- The parrot imitated the sound of a telephone.
- The manager intimated that layoffs might occur.
- She intimated that she was disappointed with the results.
- His comments intimated that he knew more than he revealed.
- The professor intimated that the exam would be difficult.
- The company intimated that prices could increase.
- The child imitated the movements of the dancer.
- The politician intimated that a new policy was being considered.
Notice that the first group involves copying, while the second group involves hinting or suggesting.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Intimated” for Copying
Incorrect:
The boy intimated his older brother’s behavior.
Correct:
The boy imitated his older brother’s behavior.
The boy copied the behavior, so imitated is correct.
Mistake 2: Using “Imitated” for Hinting
Incorrect:
The manager imitated that the company might close.
Correct:
The manager intimated that the company might close.
The manager hinted at the possibility, so intimated is correct.
Mistake 3: Thinking “Intimated” Means “Made Intimate”
When intimate is used as a verb, intimated generally means hinted or suggested.
For example:
She intimated that she wanted to leave.
This does not mean she made something personal or intimate. It means she communicated the idea indirectly.
Mistake 4: Choosing Based Only on Pronunciation
Because the words sound somewhat similar, listening alone may not help. Focus on the meaning of the sentence instead.
Ask yourself:
“Was something copied?” → Imitated
“Was something hinted?” → Intimated
Memory Trick
A simple memory trick can make this pair much easier:
IMITATED = IMITATE = COPY
The word imitated contains imitate, which means to copy.
He imitated his friend’s laugh.
INTIMATED = INDIRECT HINT
Think of intimated as communicating an idea without saying it directly.
She intimated that she wanted a promotion.
Another quick trick:
Imitated → Imitation → Copy
Intimated → Hint → Suggestion
If you remember copy vs hint, you will usually choose the correct word.
American vs British English
There is no major difference in meaning between American and British English for imitated and intimated.
Both varieties use:
- Imitated for copied or mimicked.
- Intimated for hinted or suggested indirectly.
The spelling and basic usage remain the same in both forms of English.
For example:
The actor imitated the character.
And:
The report intimated that further investigation was needed.
These sentences work naturally in both American and British English.
Similar Words
Understanding related words can also help reinforce the difference.
Words Similar to “Imitated”
- Copied
- Mimicked
- Reproduced
- Replicated
- Emulated
- Mirrored
- Parroted
- Modeled
- Followed
Example:
The performer mimicked the politician’s voice.
Words Similar to “Intimated”
- Hinted
- Suggested
- Implied
- Indicated
- Signaled
- Inferred
- Conveyed
- Mentioned indirectly
- Alluded to
Example:
She hinted that something unexpected had happened.
FAQs:
1. What is the difference between imitated and intimated?
Imitated means copied or mimicked, while intimated means hinted at or suggested something indirectly.
2. Is “imitated” the same as “copied”?
Usually, yes. Imitated means reproduced or copied someone’s actions, behavior, appearance, sound, or style.
3. Does “intimated” mean “hinted”?
Yes. When intimate is used as a verb, intimated generally means hinted, suggested, or communicated something indirectly.
4. Is “intimated” a real word?
Yes. Intimated is the past tense and past participle of the verb intimate.
5. Can I say “he intimated his friend”?
Usually not if you mean that he copied his friend. In that situation, use imitated.
He imitated his friend.
6. Can “imitated” mean suggested?
No. Imitated is about copying or mimicking. For suggesting something indirectly, use intimated.
7. What is an easy way to remember imitated vs intimated?
Remember: imitated = copied, while intimated = hinted.
Final Verdict
The difference between imitated vs intimated is simple once you focus on meaning rather than spelling.
- Imitated = copied, mimicked, or reproduced.
- Intimated = hinted, suggested, or communicated indirectly.
Use imitated when one thing resembles or copies another. Use intimated when someone gives an indirect indication of an idea, feeling, or possibility.
Remember This
Imitated = copied.
Intimated = hinted.
If someone copies an accent, action, style, or behavior, they imitated it. If someone suggests something without saying it directly, they intimated it.
That one-word distinction—copy vs hint—is the easiest way to avoid confusing these two similar-looking words.
Conclusion
Although imitated and intimated look and sound similar, their meanings are completely different. Imitated describes copying or mimicking something, while intimated describes hinting at or suggesting something indirectly. Recognizing the action in the sentence is the key to choosing correctly.
When proofreading your writing, ask whether the subject copied something or hinted at something. If it was copied, choose imitated. If it was hinted at, choose intimated. With this simple distinction, you can use both words confidently in everyday, academic, and professional English.
