The word that has the closest connotation to imitators as it is used in the sentence is pretenders.
Immitators and Pretenders
An imitator is a person who adopts the appearance or behavior of another especially in an obvious way.
A pretender is the one that pretends, such as the one who lays claim to something specifically.
Closest connotation
Out of the other words, Pretenders have the closest connotation with imitators. A Trickster is a character who uses wits, rather than strength or authority, to accomplish his goals. To counterfeit is to make a copy of something, usually with the intent to defraud. To replicate means duplicate, copy, reproduce, or repeat.
Thus, the word that has the closest connotation to imitators as it is used in the sentence is pretenders.
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