1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
that TV network's reporting is a mere caricature of real journalism
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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
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3
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the mayor has presented only a caricature of his opponent's views
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as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
caricatured the supervisor's distinctive walk
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of caricature
Claire Messud, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
But after more than two decades relishing his role as the gleeful contrarian, the persona has now become more true character than occasional outlandish caricature.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
These projects are often caricatured, but their strategic logic is clear: build new clusters, catalyze supply chains and skills, and crowd in private capital.
—Ali Shihabi, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caricature
Noun
Manhattans will be the signature drink; the DJ will play ’90s and early-aughts pop; there’ll be a caricature artist and a photo booth.
—Claire Messud, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
But after more than two decades relishing his role as the gleeful contrarian, the persona has now become more true character than occasional outlandish caricature.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
After outlining that corrupt deal, Du Bois dissects how scholarship sympathetic to the northern interests then rewrote Reconstruction’s history, turning the period into a fable of failure while caricaturing Black political leadership and widespread democratic participation.
—Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
These projects are often caricatured, but their strategic logic is clear: build new clusters, catalyze supply chains and skills, and crowd in private capital.
—Ali Shihabi, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caricature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caricature
Noun
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The three-year Off-Broadway hit is a parody of the classic film Titanic, imagining the story as if Celine Dion were narrating it.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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Maduro played the song at so many events that Chavistas (or Maduro supporters) began to claim it as pro-Maduro, even though Santana made it as a parody of the president.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The father-son duo recently filmed Spaceballs 2, the follow-up to the 1987 Star Wars spoof from comedy legend Mel Brooks and starring Bill.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Trcka expanded her career into films and television beginning with the horror spoof Scary Movie, which hit theaters in 2000.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking of which, the concept of royalty among members of PFV is no exaggeration, though some of the blue blood flowing through members’ veins is merely aristocratic.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
27 Dec. 2025
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The deliberate exaggeration of both Lee’s performance and Park’s direction is what draws us into a suspension of moral disbelief, a sense of complicity with Man-su’s outrageous scheme.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Promoted domestically as a tale of peasant uprising, the film later became a cult curiosity abroad, often mocked for its special effects but recognized as one of the country’s most technically ambitious productions.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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Some meme makers are admirers of Kirk who want to valorize him; some are neo-Nazis out to mock Kirk for not being extreme enough (while also drawing attention to their cause); some are liberals trying to troll conservatives; many are surely apolitical types having a nonsensical laugh.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors maintain the messages showed intent, not a joke or gossip.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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In one scene, Bing Crosby, who plays Tracy’s ex-husband in the movie, jokes about its size.—
Rachel Garrahan,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ellis wrote American Psycho as a satire of excess, a grotesque exaggeration of Reagan era moral vacancy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Off-Broadway theatergoers were served a true gift this season with two adaptations of Molière’s 17th century scandalous satire.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This coloring occurs because deep, compact ice absorbs light’s longer wavelengths—like reds and yellows—and scatters shorter blue wavelengths back toward our eyes.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
22 Jan. 2026
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The most unique ingredient on the list is gel food coloring, which is readily available in most supermarkets, craft stores, and even online.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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James said while walking through the venue, imitating her excitement.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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When anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois took over CBS Evening News last year, part of the network’s strategy was to imitate a local news format, with a genial cast of personalities reporting from the field.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Caricature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caricature. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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