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
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
While many see the HUAC hearings as a travesty, others defend the House committee and the anti-communist fervor that inspired it.
—Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 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
By the season’s end, in fact, more than a few travesties are laid at Peter’s feet.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
While many see the HUAC hearings as a travesty, others defend the House committee and the anti-communist fervor that inspired it.
—Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 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
-
This whole administration is sort of a parody of, like, a women’s-studies class on masculinity.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The network quickly moved to censor a transgressive sitcom parody where soon-to-be-Ramones-manager Danny Fields tries to cure a TV repairman’s hemorrhoids by sticking a lightbulb up his ass.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The father-son duo recently filmed Spaceballs 2, the follow-up to the 1987 Star Wars spoof from comedy legend Mel Brooks and starring Bill.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Trcka expanded her career into films and television beginning with the horror spoof Scary Movie, which hit theaters in 2000.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
These trees, this graveyard, her walk among them mocked that memory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The president also shared clips of the video on his Truth Social handle, along with posts mocking and attacking Pretti.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But for too many of us, that proved an empty promise, the concept of work-life balance a cruel joke for women burned out from trying to take care of children and aging relatives, advance their careers (or even tread water in them), and meet other seemingly countless obligations.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Verizon had no say over the fate of an actor who once played a fictional ad icon on its behalf, but consumers got the joke.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, previously said in a statement that accounts imitating other people go against their terms of service and are removed when flagged.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
-
These fake sites are made to imitate genuine Google support pages.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The music’s dizzying rhythmic variation is skillful and studied enough that its humor can’t be mistaken for gimmicky internet caricature.—
Rae-Aila Crumble,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Black people as laughingstock, caricature.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coming from both the Sun and also omnidirectionally from elsewhere across the Universe, these cosmic rays all behaved the same way normal particles do on Earth, except were at significantly greater energies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Some of Thursday’s decline was related to Wall Street not being happy with how much the company was spending on investments for the future (capital expenditures), and the cloud business Azure may not have done as well as some hoped.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While there’s no matching shams, their catalog lists many a pillowcase that would make a perfect companion, like this corduroy piece with a ruffled edge and needlepoint embroidery.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This was one big sham generated by AI.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
