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
Some tribal leaders said the use of Native American mascots is perceived as the non-tribal dominant society parading around its caricature of Indigenous people for entertainment, a people whose lands were taken by that dominant society. Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025 Mac's deeply closeted, Catholic-guilty homosexuality had been treated as a joke throughout the show's run, with the joke never truly being about Mac being gay, but about how his desperate repression had twisted him into a caricature of grasping masculinity. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
New York City, with its high concentration of Wall Street finance bros, is a perfect setting to caricature people who score their dates on a spreadsheet. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025 The muted, elegant interiors, for instance, are designed by David Rockwell, whose burgundies and golds evoke the dramatics of the theatre district without overtly caricaturing it. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for caricature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caricature
Noun
  • The brothers are reuniting for the first time in 18 years to write an original script for the restart of the horror parody franchise, writing and producing the movie alongside Rick Alvarez.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The back and forth began on Tuesday, Aug. 12, after the parody account shared a picture previously posted by Beckham Jr. on Instagram of him and his son, Zydn Beckham, sitting outside MetLife Stadium.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The spoof came shortly after Perry, 40, and Trudeau, 53, were spotted together on multiple occasions in late July, including dining out in Montreal and walking a dog through Mount Royal Park.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 3 Aug. 2025
  • The movie is a spoof of both 1950s sci-fi B movies and the experience of watching them on late-night TV.
    Meg Pillow July 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • All of the lies and exaggerations have resulted in the Trump administration permanently labeling themselves as the presidency that promised a populist revolt against the evil elites and then canceled it.
    Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2025
  • The views from Nobu’s signature suites are described as cinematic and that’s no exaggeration.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • The event’s host, the actress Florence Foresti, openly mocked the movie’s prominence there.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Protestors were seen holding banners and placards expressing their frustration about Vance and the wider U.S. administration, as well as mocking the vice president.
    Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Following Colbert’s ongoing jokes at the president’s expense, Trump has celebrated the talk show’s demise.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The kind of joke where the laughter is bitter and sticks in your throat, but still.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • But the satire doesn’t work, because the Republicans are afforded a nuance never given to Sophie and her idiot Democrat husband.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025
  • The action satire, which stars Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, picked up $8.3 million in its second weekend, bringing its North American haul to $33 million.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The new species was identified by its coloring, overall size, finger and toe shape, body proportions and other subtle physical features, the study said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
  • But this early in the fire season, the coloring serves as an inescapable reminder of greenhouse gas emissions and the mobility solutions that might reduce or at least slightly mitigate the future of radical weather crises.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Although Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis had a cutthroat rivalry in Black Swan, life did not imitate art for the actresses, despite Darren Aronofsky‘s best attempts.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The fake pool has been designed to imitate the uppermost twenty feet of the real one as closely as possible, down to the contours of its sides, which are made not from rock but from plastic foam sealed with fibreglass.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Caricature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caricature. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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