Imitated and intimated look and sound somewhat similar, but they have completely different meanings. Because both words contain similar letters and are pronounced differently, they can easily confuse students, ESL learners, writers and anyone trying to improve their English vocabulary.
Imitated is the past tense and past participle of imitate, meaning to copy someone or something, usually in appearance, behavior, style or actions. Intimated, on the other hand, is the past tense and past participle of intimate when used as a verb. It means to hint at, suggest or communicate something indirectly. Knowing this difference is important because using one word instead of the other can completely change the meaning of a sentence. This guide explains imitated vs intimated, their meanings, pronunciation, usage, examples, common mistakes and an easy way to remember the difference.
Quick Answer
Imitated means copied or reproduced, while intimated means hinted at or suggested indirectly. For example “She imitated her teacher” means she copied her teacher, while “She intimated that she was unhappy” means she indirectly suggested that she was unhappy.
Why Do People Confuse Imitated and Intimated?
The words imitated and intimated are easy to mix up because they have similar spellings and both contain the letters -tated or -mated near the end.
However, they come from different verbs:
- Imitated → from imitate
- Intimated → from intimate
Their meanings are also completely different.
Imitate → Imitated
Imitate means to copy someone or something.
The child imitated his father.
The child copied his father’s behavior.
Intimate → Intimated
When intimate is used as a verb, it means to hint at or suggest something indirectly.
She intimated that she wanted to leave.
She indirectly suggested that she wanted to leave.
The easiest way to avoid confusion is to focus on the base words imitate and intimate.
Imitated: Meaning and Usage
Imitated is the past tense and past participle of imitate.
It means copied, reproduced, or tried to behave like someone or something else.
You can imitate:
- A person’s behavior
- A voice
- An accent
- A style
- A movement
- A sound
- A design
- An action
- A technique
Examples of Imitated
The child imitated his mother.
The child copied his mother’s actions.
The comedian imitated the actor’s voice.
The comedian copied the actor’s way of speaking.
The artist imitated the style of a famous painter.
The artist copied or closely followed the painter’s style.
When Should You Use “Imitated”?
Use imitated when someone or something is being copied or reproduced.
Common contexts include:
- Copying behavior
- Copying speech
- Performing impressions
- Reproducing artistic styles
- Mimicking movements
- Reproducing sounds
- Following someone’s example
Intimated: Meaning and Usage
Intimated is the past tense and past participle of the verb intimate.
As a verb, intimate means to hint at, suggest, or communicate something indirectly.
For example:
He intimated that he might resign.
This means he indirectly suggested that he might resign.
The word intimated is often used in formal or literary English.
Examples of Intimated
She intimated that she was disappointed.
She suggested this without stating it directly.
The manager intimated that changes were coming.
The manager indirectly suggested that changes were coming.
He intimated that he knew the truth.
He gave an indirect indication that he knew the truth.
When Should You Use “Intimated”?
Use intimated when someone:
- Hints at something
- Suggests something indirectly
- Gives an indirect indication
- Communicates an idea without stating it directly
It is especially common in formal writing and reporting.
Imitated vs Intimated: Comparison Table
| Feature | Imitated | Intimated |
|---|---|---|
| Base verb | Imitate | Intimate |
| Meaning | Copied or mimicked | Hinted or suggested |
| Part of speech | Verb | Verb |
| Past tense | Imitated | Intimated |
| Common context | Copying actions, styles, sounds, or behavior | Indirect communication |
| Example | She imitated her sister. | She intimated that she was upset. |
| Related noun | Imitation | Intimation |
| Main idea | Copy | Hint |
When to Use “Imitated”
Use imitated when you are talking about copying something.
1. Copying Behavior
The young boy imitated his father’s gestures.
He copied his father’s movements.
2. Copying a Voice
The comedian imitated the politician’s voice.
The comedian copied the person’s voice.
3. Copying a Style
The designer imitated the style of the original artist.
The designer copied or closely followed the style.
4. Copying a Sound
The child imitated the sound of a bird.
The child reproduced the sound.
5. Copying an Action
She imitated the dancer’s movements.
She copied the dancer’s movements.
When to Use “Intimated”
Use intimated when someone communicates something indirectly.
1. Giving a Hint
He intimated that he was unhappy with the decision.
He hinted that he was unhappy.
2. Suggesting a Possibility
The manager intimated that the company might expand.
The manager indirectly suggested the possibility.
3. Indicating a Feeling
She intimated that she felt uncomfortable.
She indirectly communicated that feeling.
4. Suggesting a Decision
The director intimated that changes would be made soon.
The director suggested this without saying it directly.
5. Giving an Indirect Warning
His comments intimated that further problems might occur.
His comments indirectly suggested that more problems could happen.
20 Examples of Imitated and Intimated
- The child imitated his father’s walk.
- The comedian imitated the singer’s voice.
- She imitated her teacher’s pronunciation.
- The artist imitated the famous painting.
- The puppy imitated the older dog’s behavior.
- He imitated the actor’s movements.
- The students imitated the instructor’s actions.
- The performer imitated several famous celebrities.
- The design imitated the appearance of an older model.
- The young musician imitated his favorite guitarist.
- She intimated that she wanted to leave.
- He intimated that the meeting might be canceled.
- The manager intimated that changes were coming.
- She intimated that she disagreed with the proposal.
- The report intimated that further investigation was necessary.
- He intimated that he already knew the answer.
- The director intimated that a new project was being planned.
- She intimated that she was disappointed.
- His expression intimated that something was wrong.
- The speaker intimated that the situation could become difficult.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Imitated” When You Mean “Hinted”
Incorrect:
She imitated that she was unhappy.
This is incorrect because imitate means to copy.
Correct:
She intimated that she was unhappy.
Here, intimated means she hinted or suggested that she was unhappy.
Mistake 2: Using “Intimated” When You Mean “Copied”
Incorrect:
The child intimated his father’s movements.
Correct:
The child imitated his father’s movements.
The child copied the movements, so imitated is the correct word.
Mistake 3: Confusing “Intimate” the Verb With “Intimate” the Adjective
The word intimate has multiple meanings.
As an adjective, it can mean very personal, private, or closely connected.
They shared an intimate conversation.
As a verb, intimate means to hint or suggest.
He intimated that he knew the answer.
The meanings are different, so context matters.
Mistake 4: Thinking the Words Are Synonyms
Imitated and intimated are not synonyms.
- Imitated = copied
- Intimated = hinted
They should not normally be substituted for each other.
Memory Trick
Use this simple memory trick:
Imitate = Imitation = Copy
If someone imitates another person, they copy that person’s behavior, voice, appearance, or actions.
Intimate = Indirect hint
Think of intimated as giving an indirect indication.
So remember:
Imitated → copied
Intimated → hinted
A quick example makes the difference clear:
He imitated his brother.
= He copied his brother.
He intimated that he was leaving.
= He hinted that he was leaving.
American vs British English
Both imitated and intimated are used in American and British English with essentially the same meanings.
There is no major American-versus-British difference in the meanings of these words.
In both varieties:
Imitated means copied or mimicked.
Intimated means hinted at or suggested indirectly.
The main challenge is choosing the correct word based on the intended meaning, not choosing between regional forms.
Similar Words
Imitated
Words related to imitated include:
- Copied
- Mimicked
- Reproduced
- Emulated
- Mirrored
- Replicated
- Modeled
- Followed
For example:
The student emulated her teacher’s approach.
Intimated
Words related to intimated include:
- Hinted
- Suggested
- Implied
- Indicated
- Signaled
- Communicated
- Alluded to
- Inferred
For example:
He hinted that something had gone wrong.
Final Verdict
Imitated and intimated are two different words with completely different meanings.
Use imitated when you mean copied, mimicked, or reproduced something:
The child imitated his father.
Use intimated when you mean hinted, suggested, or communicated something indirectly:
She intimated that she was unhappy.
The easiest way to remember the difference is imitated = copied and intimated = hinted. Once you connect each word to its base verb, the distinction becomes much easier to remember.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between imitated and intimated?
Imitated means copied or mimicked, while intimated means hinted at or suggested indirectly.
Is “imitated” a real word?
Yes. Imitated is the past tense and past participle of imitate, meaning copied or mimicked.
Is “intimated” a real word?
Yes. Intimated is the past tense and past participle of intimate when intimate is used as a verb meaning to hint or suggest.
Does intimated mean copied?
No. Intimated means hinted or suggested indirectly. Imitated means copied or mimicked.
Does imitated mean suggested?
No. Imitated normally means copied or mimicked. Intimated can mean suggested or hinted.
Can “intimated” mean communicated?
Yes. When intimate is used as a verb, intimated can mean communicated or indicated something indirectly.
What is an easy way to remember imitated vs intimated?
Remember:
Imitated = copied
Intimated = hinted
Think of imitation when you see imitated, and think of an indirect hint when you see intimated.
Remember This
- Imitated comes from imitate.
- Imitated means copied or mimicked.
- Intimated comes from intimate.
- Intimated means hinted or suggested indirectly.
- Imitated is about copying.
- Intimated is about indirect communication.
- They are not synonyms.
- Remember: imitated = copied; intimated = hinted.
Conclusion
The words imitated and intimated may look similar, but their meanings are very different. Imitated is used when someone copies a person, action, sound, style or behavior. Intimated is used when someone hints at or suggests something without stating it directly.
If you remember the connection between each word and its base verb, the difference becomes simple. Imitate → imitated → copied, while intimate → intimated → hinted. Whether you are writing an essay, report, article, email, or everyday message, choosing the correct word will make your meaning much clearer.
