parody 1 of 2

1
as in spoof
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect the musical is a parody of every biblical epic ever made

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in joke
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something the young man sported a feeble parody of a mustache in a vain attempt to make himself look older

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

parody

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun parody differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of parody are burlesque, caricature, and travesty. While all these words mean "a comic or grotesque imitation," parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work.

a witty parody of a popular novel

Where would burlesque be a reasonable alternative to parody?

The words burlesque and parody are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

When is caricature a more appropriate choice than parody?

Although the words caricature and parody have much in common, caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

When could travesty be used to replace parody?

The synonyms travesty and parody are sometimes interchangeable, but travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.

this production is a travesty of the opera

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of parody
Noun
Young Frankenstein was a parody of/homage to classic monster movies, the 1930s Frankenstein films in particular. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025 The unserious image conveys how much the drama has become a parody of itself. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
Verb
It's been parodied on Sesame Street and Family Guy. Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 23 May 2025 The episode became comedic fodder for Dave Chappelle, who went on to parody Combs’ over-the-top behavior. Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for parody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parody
Noun
  • One of Ferrell’s biggest and best movies was this hilarious racing spoof, which followed the rise and fall and rise of a smug champion racer, his complicated friendship with best pal and fellow racer John C. Reilly, and his rivalry with an effete, snotty Frenchman played by Sacha Baron Cohen.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • Just as impressive is Brooks stepping back into the shoes of Yogurt (his merchandising Yoda spoof), just a year away from his hundredth birthday.
    Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • The Republican governor even poked a light joke at the energy surrounding the teams during his opening remarks.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
  • Sriram peppers her debut with offbeat characters, sometimes giving them names that are jokes in and of themselves.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • And of course, that following Sunday, Oliver did indeed mock his corporate bosses for the move.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • Many wanted Tiger to comment, but others chose to mock Williams.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Earlier, during his days with Monty Python, Gilliam co-wrote biblical black comedy The Life of Brian, whose themes of religious satire drew accusations of blasphemy and protests.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 7 July 2025
  • The logline portends a comedy, possibly a parody, even a satire.
    Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Despite this blanket ban on racist caricatures, the hateful Veo 3 videos appear to be spreading unchecked.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2025
  • Many of Kidman’s better wigs are blonde or shoulder length, but this unfortunately doesn’t ring true for the HBO movie Hemingway & Gellhorn, which stars Clive Owen as a caricature of Ernest Hemingway and a Golden Globe–nominated Kidman as his wife, the journalist Martha Gellhorn.
    Jihane Bousfiha, Vulture, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • And beyond device checks, smart verification systems can also monitor behavioral signals—like typing speed, location, or login habits—to spot anomalies that a cloned voice can’t imitate.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 10 July 2025
  • His celebration imitated him sitting down playing a video game – a tribute to his former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota who died in a car crash last week.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Billboard is 'just too valuable' to sell, owner says The political cartoon is just the latest political critique that Fiorito, who is based in California, has leveled by way of the Phoenix billboard.
    Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
  • The idea was inspired by 1945's Anchors Away, in which Kelly danced with Jerry Mouse from the beloved cartoon Tom and Jerry.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • In complex or regulated environments, speed matters, but so does cross-functional orchestration that accounts for the nuances of the situation.
    Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • The agency was in great peril, as there was no one in headquarters who could push back on harmful things being done to NASA or get things done.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Parody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parody. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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