apish

/'eipiʃ/

Thân thiện

He made an apish face to amuse the children.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Being or given to servile imitation: Characterized by or inclined to imitate others in an excessively obvious, unthinking, or slavish manner.
   • Resembling or characteristic of an ape: Having the qualities, appearance, or foolishness associated with apes.

Usage

• The primary use of "apish" is to describe behavior that is a foolish, exaggerated, or undignified imitation of someone else. It is a critical term, implying a lack of originality or intelligence.
• It can also be used literally to describe something that resembles an ape, though this is less common.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • His apish attempts to mimic the CEO's mannerisms made him look ridiculous rather than impressive.
  • The critic dismissed the young artist's work as merely apish, lacking any creative spark of its own.
  • The comedian's apish antics on stage were more silly than funny.

Advanced Usage

• "Apish imitation": A common collocation emphasizing the slavish and unoriginal nature of the copying.
  • The film was criticized for its apish imitation of a popular Hollywood blockbuster, offering nothing new.

Variants and Related Words

• Ape (verb): To imitate or mimic, often in a clumsy or thoughtless way.
  • He aped the walking style of his favorite movie star.
• Aper (noun): One who apes or imitates.
• Apishly (adverb): In an apish manner.
  • He grinned apishly at his friend's joke.

Synonyms

• Imitative: Following a model or example.
• Slavish: Showing no attempt at originality; copying completely.
• Mimetic: Relating to or characterized by imitation.
• Simian: (When referring to resemblance) Of or relating to apes or monkeys.

Antonyms

• Original: Created directly and personally by a particular artist; not a copy.
• Inventive: Having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. being or given to servile imitation

Từ đồng nghĩa

• apelike