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
Relevance
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
as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
this comedy sketch mindlessly travesties the hard work of relief workers around the world
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 travesty
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Reversal of this travesty is dependent on challenging an infrastructure that denies the importance of caring without injury.
—David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
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
Noun
Turning it into an exclusive, mini-Mar-a-Lago club is a travesty.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Reversal of this travesty is dependent on challenging an infrastructure that denies the importance of caring without injury.
—David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 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
-
Regretting You is a similarly ridiculous and overwrought slice of melodrama, leavened with strange moments of comedy that leave you wondering if the whole thing isn’t some kind of bizarre art project, an elaborate, camp parody of the very notion of romantic literature itself.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
-
This semester's show is a musical parody of Love Island called Love on an Island.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On last night’s episode of Saturday Night Live, a QVC spoof about a pillow took a meta turn.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
-
For instance, think back to when everyone was doing spoofs about titles that dealt with women in trains or in windows or in peril.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The principal of a Chicago elementary school that employs a teacher who appeared to mock the assassination of Charlie Kirk apparently portrayed the educator as a victim amid backlash over her behavior.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
-
He has already been known to privately mock conservative pastors.—
Rev. Nathan Empsall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a joke in here somewhere.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Some Sora users depicted King making crude jokes and other inappropriate content.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the spirit of art imitating life, the episode calls attention to the proliferation of potentially toxic chemicals in the products many of us slather daily on our face, body and hair.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
This provides my son with an opportunity to imitate me verbally and gesturally.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Arquette, meanwhile, manages to make Maggie more than a caricature.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The screenplay stumbles the most when trying to render its Gen Z students, often diving too far into caricature.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One issue is that hypnosis has long been viewed as a form of entertainment, a stage show with a hypnotist and an audience, which can give viewers a sense that hypnosis is something done to you rather than a process that a person is led through.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
There are a lot of very respectable academics that have done a lot of really amazing work in Black Studies and Africana Studies.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Included in the set are shams for your pillows and a duvet.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The set includes two shams and is available in eight pattern choices.—
Sheri Kaz,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share