farce

noun

ˈfärs How to pronounce farce (audio)
Definition of farcenext
1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something the recall of a duly elected official for a frivolous reason is not democracy in action but a farce

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comedy
humorous entertainment the rubber-faced, loose-jointed comedian is a master of knockabout farce

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 farce Not comedy, not tragedy, more like farce, but farce with consequences. — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Before halftime, the game risked descending into such a farce that it could have been remembered as the third-place match to end all third-place matches. — Sergio Gonzalez, New York Times, 19 July 2026 The author of the series bears the same curiosity, quick wit, and linguistic dexterity as the younger man who wrote Zone One and 2006’s messy farce, Apex Hides the Hurt. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 The years-long qualifying format will become a bit of a farce, as virtually every big country would now qualify easily. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for farce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for farce
  1. parody
  2. comedy
  3. joke
  4. satire
  5. caricature
  6. humor
  7. sham
Noun
  • The show was a phenomenon that continues to inspire copycats and parodies; Hansen emerged as an icon for some, and a meme for others.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The reel — shot chin-first, uploaded at midnight — inspired countless parodies.
    — Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Eisenberg’s playful comedy, which just premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, is sometimes a musical and occasionally a thriller.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • When Fyodor drags himself on the floor, begging for forgiveness or a bit more money to play roulette, the gesture straddles the line between humor and intense discomfort — veering into cringe comedy.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of comedy
Noun
  • In their new home, the past clings to Everton; restless, a bad joke, craving more, loud, glorious.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The vice president warned during the event that her threat was not a joke.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • Jim McBride’s David Holzman’s Diary (1967), a metafictional satire of cineéma veériteé, is called by some the first modern mockumentary.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In 1995, Steinem made a guest appearance on the talk-show satire series starring Garry Shandling and Jeffrey Tambor.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of satire
Noun
  • Jerry could easily be a caricature of a pretentious artiste stuck overseeing anonymous regional theater productions.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no outrageous violence or unpleasant caricatures, and the 157-minute runtime feels breezy.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • Director Margaret Shigeko Starbuck leans into makeshift theatricality — flashlights, pool noodles, pocket umbrellas — while a nimble ensemble balances meta-theatrical humor with genuine feeling for Pericles and his beleaguered family.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout the financial troubles that the couple face given Fyodor’s inability to deliver pages, Szumowska and Englert feature scatological humor that further dissolves any notions of elegance associated with 19th-century Europe.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of humor
Noun
  • The five-piece set includes a plush comforter, throw blanket, shams, and a decorative pillow for calming cohesion, and comes in rich neutrals like creamy beige, midnight blue, and toasty brown.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But investigators now say his story was a sham and that behind closed doors, the assistant fire chief was allegedly living a double life.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sham

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farce
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Cite this Entry

“Farce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/farce. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on farce

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about farce

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