1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spoof
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
the big-screen version of the classic sitcom is actually a good-natured travesty of the TV series
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
this comedy sketch mindlessly travesties the hard work of relief workers around the world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of travesty
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
The midterms will give the American voter the opportunity to end this travesty of justice.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
The New Republic,
22 June 2023
Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art.
—
Cynthia Ozick,
WSJ,
25 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for travesty
Noun
The most surprising couple to reconcile is the travesty formerly known as Larl.
—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
The midterms will give the American voter the opportunity to end this travesty of justice.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
In 1933, the Marx Brothers mocked dictatorship with Duck Soup; three decades later, Kubrick and writer Terry Southern travestied the Bomb.
—
The New Republic,
22 June 2023
Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art.
—
Cynthia Ozick,
WSJ,
25 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for travesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travesty
Noun
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Their outmoded style, with its seriousness and corniness, its big acting choices and low budgets, is basically impossible to recreate without falling into parody.
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Frankie stars in the musical comedy, a parody of the 1997 blockbuster Titanic set to a score of songs by Céline Dion.
Noun
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But given the current box office sensations of Obsession and Backrooms, Tiddes certainly wishes the timing had allowed for spoofs of those horror movies.
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Who series, but did play the Eleventh Doctor in The Curse of Fatal Death spoof, and in other special broadcasts.
Verb
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Within a couple of hours, Wilkins’ replies to the post were flooded with accusations of favoritism, questioning the use of taxpayer funds to book her and mocking her sincerity about being chosen as a performer following high-profile exits from the event.
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The 19-year-old was mocked as a late first-round, early second-round selection.
Noun
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New Delhi — What started as an online joke has now spilled onto the streets of India’s capital.
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Jan Paul van Hecke, a center-back who saw action on all parts of the pitch by both defending and scoring a goal, praised how the field held up — while also making a joke.
Verb
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Those still carry weight, but many have become easier to acquire, finance, or imitate.
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Once the squid gather near the surface, lines fitted with bait are lowered into the water and rapidly jerked up and down to imitate small prey such as shrimp, triggering strikes before the catch is reeled aboard.
Noun
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And the thing about caricatures?
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Too often, caricatures are deployed to justify unfair and unjust treatment.
Verb
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Smoke, salt, pepper and bark do the work.
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Mark Thompson does the costume and scenic design, with lighting by Howard Harrison.
Noun
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Each quilt comes with two matching shams to complete the look, and the bedding uses ultrasonic binding instead of stitching so the filling doesn’t shift.
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The set also comes with two matching pillow shams for a cohesive look.
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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