send-up 1 of 2

noun

ˈsend-ˌəp How to pronounce send-up (audio)
Definition of send-upnext
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect a singer-comedian who specializes in send-ups of pop hits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

send up

2 of 2

verb

as in to imitate
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of the sitcom sends up the "trials and tribulations" of the rich and famous

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 send-up
Noun
Scary Movie released in theaters on Friday, treating fans after a long hiatus to classically raunchy, Wayans-style send-ups of films like Get Out, Sinners, and M3GAN, all of which were glimpsed in teasers and trailers leading up to the premiere. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026 Of course all the business between Patricia and the Boogeyman is just an excuse for Widow’s Bay to stage a corker of a send-up of 1978’s Halloween and slasher movies of its ilk. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Verb
Video shared through ViralHog captured the dramatic calving event as enormous chunks of ice plunged into the fjord, sending up a towering spray before a powerful wave begins racing toward the boat. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, and Ed Harris lead this diverting little comedy sending up the real-life court wars between the sports. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for send-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for send-up
  1. parody
  2. imitate
  3. spoof
  4. mock
  5. satire
  6. do
Noun
  • The ballet became a hilarious parody of Wagnerian cliches as a cartwheeling child wearing sneakers with rainbow lights and dressed in gold, resembling statues of the composer, presided in front of a faux Bayreuth proscenium.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But fans will recognize the major tentpoles of this parody musical.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of parody
Verb
  • When her mother brought home a Boswell Sisters record, a young Ella Fitzgerald spent hours imitating the group’s front woman, Connee Boswell, in an effort to learn to sing.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • See, for instance, the song the women of the cast performed imitating the fervor for him.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of imitate
Noun
  • Spaceballs saw Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet, the villainous spoof of Star Wars’ iconic villain Darth Vader.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Wet Hot American Summer, the brainchild of several alumni of the beloved sketch troupe The State, is a hilarious and highly specific spoof of late-’70s and early-’80s summer-camp comedies in the vein of Meatballs.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
Definition of spoof
Verb
  • Since the education minister's resignation, Modi has also spoken of forgiving those who had mocked the prime minister, an apparent effort to reconnect with younger audiences.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Trump routinely mocks Newsom and refers to the governor using a derogatory nickname, while Newsom taunts the president with frequent social media posts.
    — Darlene Superville, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of mock
Noun
  • Running through Saturday, the 4th of July Tuna High School Class reunion takes over the third-tiniest town in Texas, bringing oddball humor and small-town satire into the spotlight.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Some of these memes adhered to conventional forms of political satire.
    — Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of satire
Verb
  • What person in their sane mind that’s not a Russian asset would do that?
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Western Digital is talking about doing this with 12-14 disks in a drive.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of do

Browse Nearby Words

sends up
send-up
send up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Send-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/send-up. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All