Imitated vs Intimated: What’s the Difference? (Meanings & Usage).

The words imitated and intimated look and sound somewhat alike, making them easy to confuse. However, they have completely different meanings and are used in very different situations. Imitated relates to copying or mimicking someone or something, while intimated means to hint at or suggest something indirectly.

Because these words differ by only a few letters, they’re a common source of spelling and vocabulary mistakes. Choosing the wrong one can completely change the meaning of your sentence. In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between imitated and intimated, when to use each and how to remember them with confidence.

Quick Answer

Use imitated when you mean copied, mimicked or reproduced.

Use intimated when you mean hinted, implied or suggested indirectly.

Examples:

• ✅ The child imitated her teacher’s voice.
• ✅ He intimated that he might resign.
• ❌ She intimated the artist’s painting. (Incorrect)

Why People Confuse It

People confuse these words because:

• They have similar spellings.
• Both are past-tense verbs ending in -ed.
• Their pronunciations are somewhat alike.
• Intimated is less common, so writers sometimes choose it by mistake.

The key difference is simple:

• Imitated = Copied.
• Intimated = Hinted.

Imitated

Imitated is the past tense of imitate.

Meaning

It means:

• Copied someone’s behavior.
• Mimicked speech or actions.
• Reproduced the appearance or style of something.

Examples

• The comedian imitated several famous actors.
• She imitated her mother’s handwriting.
• The student imitated the teacher’s pronunciation.
• The design imitated traditional architecture.
• Young children often imitate adults.

Intimated

Intimated is the past tense of intimate (verb).

Meaning

It means:

• Hinted.
• Suggested indirectly.
• Gave subtle indication of something.

It is a fairly formal word and is less common than hinted or implied.

Examples

• The manager intimated that changes were coming.
• She intimated her dissatisfaction without saying it directly.
• The report intimated that further investigation was needed.
• He intimated he might accept the offer.
• The witness intimated that someone else was involved.

Imitated vs. Intimated Comparison Table

Feature	Imitated	Intimated
Main meaning	Copied or mimicked	Hinted or suggested
Related to behavior or appearance	✅ Yes	❌ No
Related to indirect communication	❌ No	✅ Yes
Common in everyday English	✅ Yes	⚠️ Less common
Part of speech	Verb (past tense)	Verb (past tense)

When to Use Each

Use imitated when talking about:

• Copying someone’s actions.
• Mimicking a voice.
• Reproducing a style.
• Following another person’s behavior.

Examples:

• She imitated his accent.
• The painting imitated Renaissance art.

Use intimated when talking about:

• Hinting at future plans.
• Suggesting an idea indirectly.
• Implying something without saying it openly.

Examples:

• He intimated that he would retire soon.
• The article intimated a possible policy change.

Examples (10+)

1. The child imitated her favorite singer.
2. He imitated the bird’s call perfectly.
3. The actor imitated the president’s mannerisms.
4. Their furniture imitated antique designs.
5. She imitated the dance moves flawlessly.
6. The CEO intimated that layoffs were possible.
7. He intimated his support without making a public statement.
8. The lawyer intimated that a settlement was likely.
9. The letter intimated dissatisfaction with the proposal.
10. She intimated that she already knew the answer.
11. The children imitated the magician’s tricks.
12. The professor intimated that the exam would be challenging.

Common Mistakes

❌ He intimated his father’s voice.

✅ He imitated his father’s voice.

❌ She imitated that she wanted to leave.

✅ She intimated that she wanted to leave.

❌ The article imitated a possible problem.

✅ The article intimated a possible problem.

Remember:

• Imitated = Copied.
• Intimated = Hinted.

Memory Trick

Use this simple association:

• Imitated starts with imit-, which looks like imitation.
• Intimated contains hint in its meaning even though the spelling is different, think of intimated = indirectly indicated.

Ask yourself:

• Am I talking about copying? → Imitated
• Am I talking about hinting? → Intimated

American vs. British English

There is no significant difference between American and British English.

Both varieties use:

• Imitated to mean copied or mimicked.
• Intimated to mean hinted or implied indirectly.

The only difference is frequency: intimated is relatively formal and less common in everyday speech in both varieties.

Similar Words

If you’re learning commonly confused English words, you may also like:

• Affect vs Effect
• Accept vs Except
• Propose vs Purpose
• Principal vs Principle
• Coach vs Couch
• Sell vs Sale
• Bright vs Brite

Final Verdict

Although imitated and intimated differ by only a few letters, they have entirely different meanings. Imitated means to copy, mimic or reproduce someone or something, while intimated means to hint at or suggest something indirectly.

Whenever you’re unsure, think about your intention. If someone is copying an action or style, choose imitated. If they’re communicating something subtly without saying it outright, intimated is the correct word.

FAQs

What is the difference between “imitated” and “intimated”?

Imitated means copied or mimicked, while intimated means hinted or implied indirectly.

Is “intimated” a real word?

Yes. Intimated is the past tense of the verb intimate, meaning to suggest or hint indirectly.

Which word should I use when someone copies another person?

Use imitated.

Example: The student imitated the teacher’s accent.

Which word means “hinted”?

Intimated means hinted or suggested indirectly.

Is “intimated” common in everyday English?

Not really. It’s mostly found in formal writing, journalism, legal language, and literature. In everyday conversation, people often use hinted or implied instead.

Do American and British English use these words differently?

No. Both varieties use the same meanings and grammar for imitated and intimated.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between imitated and intimated can prevent a small spelling mistake from creating a completely different meaning. While imitated is all about copying actions, appearances or behaviors, intimated focuses on suggesting something indirectly without stating it openly.

Because intimated is less common in everyday English, it’s worth taking an extra moment to check whether you really mean “hinted” or “copied.” Doing so will make your writing clearer, more precise and more professional.

Remember This

✅ Imitated = Copied or mimicked

✅ Intimated = Hinted or implied

Think: “Imitated” copies actions; “intimated” communicates indirectly.