caricature 1 of 2

Definition of caricaturenext
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

Relevance

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
An early storyline features what might be the laziest incel caricature ever committed to video. Judy Berman, Time, 21 Jan. 2026 Rewatched today, through no foreseeable fault of the movie or actor, Davison’s wimpy, anti-social straight white loner character still looks like a caricature but feels darker. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the ranks of Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson Pelosi is a fierce partisan and sometimes a brittle one, open to caricature by her foes. Susan Page, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 It is often caricatured through its most notable proponents such as President Donald Trump in the United States and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, both of whom critics perceive as populists wrapping themselves in Bitcoin’s banner for partisan theater and political donations. Saul Hudson, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for caricature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caricature
Noun
  • This whole administration is sort of a parody of, like, a women’s-studies class on masculinity.
    Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
  • The network quickly moved to censor a transgressive sitcom parody where soon-to-be-Ramones-manager Danny Fields tries to cure a TV repairman’s hemorrhoids by sticking a lightbulb up his ass.
    Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • No weapons were found, and police told Fox San Antonio the phone call came from Philadelphia and was later determined to be a spoof.
    Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Cinemas had been flooded with spy movies by this point; even the Bond spoof Casino Royale, released the same year, rivaled the real 007 film's popularity.
    Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Schultz declined to respond to the litany of accusations, calling them exaggerations and mischaracterizations.
    Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The assumption was that exaggeration would repel.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Khaby Lame, a Senegalese-Italian influencer with more than 160 million TikTok followers, became an international sensation for his wordless reactions mocking overly complex viral videos.
    J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Mahan, who made a name for himself by criticizing the governor on homelessness, found himself in the hot seat with Hilton, who mocked a recent interview in which Mahan praised Newsom’s progress in reducing homelessness at the state level, an about-face from earlier comments.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But for too many of us, that proved an empty promise, the concept of work-life balance a cruel joke for women burned out from trying to take care of children and aging relatives, advance their careers (or even tread water in them), and meet other seemingly countless obligations.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Verizon had no say over the fate of an actor who once played a fictional ad icon on its behalf, but consumers got the joke.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The second season of the Seth Rogen showbiz satire recently began filming.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The film is a social satire set on a long-haul flight where the entertainment systems fail, and an eclectic group of international passengers are forced to face the horror of being bored.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • For years, Raines’ organization has served people experiencing homelessness across the region, providing them services such as hair coloring, makeup and mobile showers.
    Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Studies show that coloring can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety while improving your mood.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, previously said in a statement that accounts imitating other people go against their terms of service and are removed when flagged.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
  • These fake sites are made to imitate genuine Google support pages.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Caricature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caricature. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on caricature

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!