charade

noun cha·rade \ shə-ˈrād , -ˈräd \

Updated on: 6 Apr 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

Nurse Chatterbox is threatening to uncover my lifelong charade with her hair-conditioner inquiries.

— alise leslie, The Root, "Champion," 1 Apr. 2018
Keeping up a charade of aspirational authenticity started to feel suffocating.

— danielle prescod, Harper's BAZAAR, "I Quit Instagram for 43 Days," 30 Mar. 2018
The Norwegian Olympians play cards and charades before their competitions.

— sean gregory/gangneung, Time, "Norway Crushed the Competition at the Winter Olympics. Here Is the Tiny Country's Secret," 23 Feb. 2018
Critics described the vote as a charade, and opposition activist Navalny has been urging his supporters to boycott the vote ever since he was barred from the ballot in December.

— anton troianovski, BostonGlobe.com, "Putin claims victory in Russia’s presidential election," 18 Mar. 2018
But Ford was taking the seatbelts and row of seats out, after the vans’ customs declarations were accepted;and in time the feds put an end to that charade.

— ed wallace, star-telegram, "Chaos Wars," 17 Mar. 2018
In their view, Falcón’s candidacy provides a veneer of legitimacy to the political charade — and risks delaying their goal of ousting Maduro and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "A Venezuelan politician says he can defeat Maduro. Why does the opposition hate him? | Miami Herald," 8 Mar. 2018
What was a steamy battle of wits in the novel looks more like a chemistry-free charade onscreen.

— stephanie merry, idahostatesman, "Lawrence makes the most of so-so ‘Red Sparrow’ | Idaho Statesman," 1 Mar. 2018
The charade of thinking will end with the imposition of yet more steel tariffs/taxes, joining the 149 (some as high as 266 percent) targeting many of the over 110 countries and territories from which America imports steel.

— george will, National Review, "The Perils of Protectionism," 27 Jan. 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