charade

noun cha·rade \ shə-ˈrād , -ˈräd \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Definition of charade

1 : a word represented in riddling verse or by picture, tableau, or dramatic action (such as intrusion represented by depiction of inn, true, and shun)

2 charades plural : a game in which some of the players try to guess a word or phrase from the actions of another player who may not speak

3 : an empty or deceptive act or pretense

his concern was a charade

See charade defined for English-language learners

See charade defined for kids

Examples of charade in a Sentence

We've grown tired of your charades.
put on a convincing charade to keep her from knowing about the surprise party

Recent Examples of charade from the Web

Holmes also misled investors on how much revenue the company was going to make, and faked demonstrations of her lab equipment to keep the charade going.

— julia belluz, Vox, "How Silicon Valley got played by Theranos," 15 June 2018
The charade was so successful that Russia briefly passed for a contender.

— joshua robinson, WSJ, "Russia Is Out of the Russian World Cup," 7 July 2018
And yet, the notoriously firing-averse Trump doesn't even appear to want to end the charade himself.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "Trump all but kills Ronny Jackson’s ill-considered VA nomination with one final spectacle," 24 Apr. 2018
The charade goes on for a few more seconds, but then cuts out to the waddling toddler attempting to run after the forest creature.

— alexis hobbs, Woman's Day, "Toddler Waddles Toward Baby Deer, What Happens Next is Absolutely Precious," 21 Aug. 2015
Drum up a game of tag or charades to get the whole gang involved.

— kat hnatyshyn, kansascity, "Here's to a thrifty Fourth of July," 30 June 2018
There was no reason for the Colts to continue the charade that Luck’s return would restore them to a playoff team.

— Indianapolis Star, "Andrew Luck is throwing. Oddsmakers and analysts aren't buying it.," 28 June 2018
Although the presidential vote, scheduled for March 26-28, is widely seen as a charade — Mr. Sisi’s sole opponent is an obscure politician who until recently backed him — the government has given no quarter to potential rivals.

— declan walsh, New York Times, "As Elections Near, Egypt Finds a New Target: Foreign News Media," 28 Feb. 2018
In the gallery space, there’s no grand reveal, no Alan Abel-like figure pulling back the curtain on Moulton’s fantastical charade midway through.

— andrea alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, "Fact and Fiction Collide Inside an Exhibit Inspired by a “Forgotten” L.A. Legend—and Beverly Hills Cop," 12 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'charade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of charade

French, from Occitan charrado chat, from charrá to chat, chatter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1776

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

charade Synonyms

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, convention, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce

CHARADE Defined for English Language Learners

charade

noun

Definition of charade for English Language Learners

: something that is done in order to pretend something is true when it is not really true
charades : a game in which players try to guess a word or phrase from the actions of another player who is not allowed to speak