1
as in spoofs
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
the musical is a parody of every biblical epic ever made
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in jokes
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
the young man sported a feeble parody of a mustache in a vain attempt to make himself look older
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in mocks
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
parodying a public figure's distinctive mannerisms takes particular talent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of parodies
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 20 May 2026
His most viral videos include skits about dueling Drake and Kendrick Lamar tracks and parodies amplifying more serious lyrical messages in popular party music.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026
Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.
—Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Human artists have designed creative parodies of AI slop, but AI lacks the necessary self-awareness to parody itself, even with a human behind the wheel.
—Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
How did Jane Lynch wind up in the YouTube ad parodies?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Countless memes and parodies have circulated online.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
There have been countless parodies of the mega-viral ad and lots of unofficial merch created in its honor.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Alexander Durie, Time, 3 Mar. 2026
Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile, adopting a combative style that parodies Trump’s social media strategy with similar all-caps posts, memes and merchandise.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
In another nod to Scream, Cheri Oteri parodies Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers as the comically unethical news anchor Gail Hailstorm.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
One of the videos adorably parodies the premiere episode with Katar and Sokka discovering Aang and battling Zuko and the Fire Nation.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
For the social media stars — whose content parodies their real lives through comedic skits — the new baby will also present an opportunity for new kinds of videos.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
South Park’s Eric Cartman parodies Kirk in the episode by asking a college student a question, referencing Kirk’s viral debates on college campuses.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
Its various iterations have managed to hold viewers' attention in the years since (the 2009 sibling version inspired a slew of parodies and fan fiction).
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 20 May 2026
His most viral videos include skits about dueling Drake and Kendrick Lamar tracks and parodies amplifying more serious lyrical messages in popular party music.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026
Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.
—Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Human artists have designed creative parodies of AI slop, but AI lacks the necessary self-awareness to parody itself, even with a human behind the wheel.
—Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
How did Jane Lynch wind up in the YouTube ad parodies?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Countless memes and parodies have circulated online.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
There have been countless parodies of the mega-viral ad and lots of unofficial merch created in its honor.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Ben Hania’s film before that, 2020’s Oscar-nominated The Man Who Sold His Skin, parodies the art world’s fetishization of refugees.
—Alexander Durie, Time, 3 Mar. 2026
Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile, adopting a combative style that parodies Trump’s social media strategy with similar all-caps posts, memes and merchandise.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
In another nod to Scream, Cheri Oteri parodies Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers as the comically unethical news anchor Gail Hailstorm.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
One of the videos adorably parodies the premiere episode with Katar and Sokka discovering Aang and battling Zuko and the Fire Nation.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
For the social media stars — whose content parodies their real lives through comedic skits — the new baby will also present an opportunity for new kinds of videos.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
South Park’s Eric Cartman parodies Kirk in the episode by asking a college student a question, referencing Kirk’s viral debates on college campuses.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parodies
Noun
-
Based on the Apple TV series, the fizzy throwback spoofs Golden Age musicals, and follows an on-the-rocks couple who are trapped in a town where people sing and dance incessantly.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
There would be more scripted and carefully choreographed moments in his TV spots for Calvin Klein jeans and Obsession, collaborations with the writer Doon Arbus (daughter of Diane and Allan Arbus) that took chances (and which, for some viewers, are inseparable from memorable spoofs on SNL).—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Often the jokes are tied to an upcoming holiday or event.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
The Tribeca Film Festival has publicly condemned jokes made on the red carpet at the premiere of The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan).—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The group openly mocks Jesus Christ and many Christian and Catholic traditions.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is demanding all copies of Unethical Hoops, a new Operation-style board game that mocks his foul-drawing reputation, be destroyed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Known for creating wicked political satires like Veep and The Thick of It, Iannucci is currently competing on Taskmaster.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
Filmmakers have used the Civil War as a setting for many decades now, inspiring stories of epic military battles, romantic melodramas, and even satires, from sweeping Best Picture winners like Gone With the Wind (1939) to revisionist Westerns like Django Unchained (2012).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What did that film teach you about the challenge of portraying political differences without turning people into caricatures?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Too often issues are nationalized where people begin to argue with strangers, which can lead people using caricatures to oversimplify complex problems.—
DJ Simmons,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
But neither painting nor photography imitates nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Like most creative endeavors, art imitates life at Monse.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
So the whole success of the Tracey Ullman Show shorts were based on 15-second cartoons.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
-
Saturday morning cartoons created a special, quiet time for kids to feel seen and enjoy their own space.—
Alex Shoemaker,
Parents,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Rather than attacking all rapidly growing cells, as chemotherapy does, the drug targets a key cancer-driving pathway known as KRAS, which is involved in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
-
David Fine as Scorpius does an enormous amount of heavy lifting by injecting urgency and pathos, despite his character’s timid personality.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parodies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parodies. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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