travesty 1 of 2

1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice

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 big-screen version of the classic sitcom is actually a good-natured travesty of the TV series

Synonyms & Similar Words

travesty

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun travesty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of travesty are burlesque, caricature, and parody. While all these words mean "a comic or grotesque imitation," travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.

this production is a travesty of the opera

When could burlesque be used to replace travesty?

The words burlesque and travesty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

Where would caricature be a reasonable alternative to travesty?

While the synonyms caricature and travesty are close in meaning, caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

When would parody be a good substitute for travesty?

The words parody and travesty can be used in similar contexts, 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

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 travesty
Noun
But the summit at Chile’s presidential palace was a travesty for several additional reasons. Andres Oppenheimer july 22, Miami Herald, 22 July 2025 France had claimed the island as a protectorate, in 1842; by the time Gauguin arrived, the bamboo buildings in the capital, Papeete, had been replaced by travesties of brick and iron. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Verb
In 1933, the Marx Brothers mocked dictatorship with Duck Soup; three decades later, Kubrick and writer Terry Southern travestied the Bomb. The New Republic, 22 June 2023 Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art. Cynthia Ozick, WSJ, 25 May 2018 See All Example Sentences for travesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travesty
Noun
  • Young Frankenstein is a parody of the horror genre, drawing inspiration from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
  • André settles in for a minute, riffing with O’Brien about his own series, a parody of late-night talk shows, which had recently premièred on Adult Swim.
    Chris Almeida, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Other early influences included a stint assisting Ken Shapiro, director of 1974’s pre-SNL sketch spoof The Groove Tube.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Valcq's musical, a spoof of 1950s science-fiction movies, was first staged at the Skylight, had a Milwaukee setting and was filled with Milwaukee references.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Lopez noted and mocked Johnson’s comments, sarcastically asking why the mayor didn’t blame it on other historic phenomena.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
  • For Gen Z, shaped by a hyper-online upbringing where missteps are often amplified and mocked, being obviously earnest can feel risky.
    Ruth Oh Reitmeier, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Related Stories Farrelly thinks that kind of oppressive political correctness is fading and that audiences are eager to see movies that eviscerate good taste in order to land a joke again.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • What started as a joke soon turned into a tourism draw that put Lajitas on the map.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps, but no machine can imitate my imagination or the memories that pour through me, or feel the fear of extinguishment.
    Adam Verner September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes art imitates life by skipping a generation.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The director was careful to avoid creating caricatures of religious figures.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The same red flannel was often featured in caricatures of Mammy.
    Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Revord does the audio themself, and worked with a dialect coach to perfect British accents and learn how to act without facial expressions or gestures.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Trump has done less of this in his second term, preferring to twist arms and lobby lawmakers privately this time.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Pottery Barn offers matching shams with zipper closures, and both the quilt and shams are available on sale.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
  • In terms of your pillowcases, skip the decorative shams and opt for a set that matches your sheets.
    Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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