caricature 1 of 2

1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something that TV network's reporting is a mere caricature of real journalism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in spoof
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect the artist creates caricatures of famous paintings by replacing humans with cats

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

caricature

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun caricature differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of caricature are burlesque, parody, and travesty. While all these words mean "a comic or grotesque imitation," caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

When might burlesque be a better fit than caricature?

The meanings of burlesque and caricature largely overlap; however, burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

In what contexts can parody take the place of caricature?

The synonyms parody and caricature are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When is travesty a more appropriate choice than caricature?

The words travesty and caricature are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 caricature
Noun
Do the caricature, because that’s what ‘SNL’ is. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025 The characters are bright, marionette-like caricatures whom the author constructs and moves ostentatiously in full view of the reader, revealing his artistic devices with a sense of absurd, mischievous humor. Nelly Klos september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
The show’s first limp wrist belongs to a novelty teapot caricaturing Wilde as a man-woman. Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 15 July 2025 Businesses must respect the aging consumer—not infantilize them, ignore them or caricature them. Lara Devgan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for caricature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caricature
Noun
  • Her only acting credit so far is a short parody sketch called AI Commissioner.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Aimee Lou Wood doesn’t regret criticizing Saturday Night Live over their parody of her character on The White Lotus.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After all, that warped sitcom spoof has to be one of the most genuinely demented things to ever air, without a shred of warning and in the middle of the night, on cable TV.
    A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Moranis, Zuniga, Pullman, Brooks, and Wyner are set to reprise their iconic roles in the sequel to the 1987 sci-fi spoof, with Gad, Palmer, Lewis Pullman, and Anthony Carrigan playing new, undisclosed characters.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Overstatement, gross exaggeration, outright lying.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
  • And like the previous two, including an Emmy Award-winning 2022 series about Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, the story of Ed Gein has a number of exaggerations and fabrications over its eight episodes.
    JR Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
  • After the White House meeting, the president posted a cartoonish fake video mocking the Democratic leadership that was widely viewed as unserious and racist.
    Mary Clare Jalonick, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • According to The New York Times, Chappelle — who has been under fired for his transphobic jokes in the past — used his comedy set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to speak about the lack of freedom of speech in the United States, especially in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
  • People taking offense at jokes simply didn’t land as a news story anymore.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While not everyone took to Cult’s broad political satire, it’s still considered a fine mid-era installment.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
  • While framed as satire, the content references child exploitation, raising questions about the adequacy of Sora 2’s safeguards.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The new species was identified by its DNA, body size, skin texture, coloring, finger and toe shape, skeletal structure, teeth, and other subtle physical features, researchers said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Jesus, in profile in the frame, had shoulder-length waves like late-stage Michael Jackson but a coloring that was more African than His Mediterranean birth would imply, though not as dark as Jean, and much less so than Wole, an actual African.
    David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The fact that these programs are becoming adept at imitating consciousness, however, may be all that matters for now.
    Webb Wright, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Multiple images of Trump then pop up behind the New York lawmaker seemingly to imitate a mariachi band.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Caricature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caricature. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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